World Turtle Day Brings Trouble

Today, May 23, is World Turtle Day, started 10 years ago by American Tortoise Rescue to raise awareness for the world's oldest creatures. Experts predict that these animals, who have been around for 200 million years, may not survive the next fifty. Susan Tellem, founder of American Tortoise Rescue said, "It is a very sad time for turtles and tortoises of the world."

Especially the ones in the Gulf of Mexico.

Last week, the first oiled sea turtle was rescued — a baby Kemp's ridley, the most endangered species of sea turtle in the world. The turtle, too young for rescuers to tell its gender, was coated in oil and could barely move when it was found by the Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program. The turtle, named Olay, is now recovering at the Audubon Aquatic Center. Despite the thorough washing upon arrival, they're still finding oil residue in Olay's mouth and passing through its system days later.

Olay will stay in the care of the rescuers at least until completely healthy, but it might be longer depending on how long it takes for the mess in the Gulf to get under control. It's easy enough for the aquatic center to care for one sea turtle indefinitely, but what happens if more are found? As the oil continues to flow and hits beaches and marshes, wildlife rescue centers could become overwhelmed very quickly.

Nearly 200 sea turtles have been found since the oil spill, most of them dead. Although they don't have external signs of oil exposure, the number is higher than usual. There's some concern that the chemicals being used to disperse the oil are highly toxic to marine life, and may be playing a part in the dead wildlife that's been washing ashore.

Officials are worried that the oil spill death toll for wildlife is much higher than what's been found so far, but since the spill is further out at sea and mostly underwater, the bodies are sinking to the ocean floor or being eaten by scavengers. It's also a danger for the next generation; it's nesting season and the sea turtle hatchlings and other baby marine life will be starting their lives in polluted waters this year. Now that the oil has started to hit the shore, their troubles may begin before they even leave their nests.

Kemp's ridley populations had been recovering in recent years, but the Deepwater Horizon spill has experts very worried. The turtles are heavily concentrated in the Gulf of Mexico, with feeding grounds close by areas of oil production. They live off critters like crabs, clams and oysters, who may be in danger as oil contaminates the ecosystems along the Gulf Coast. Like many species, the sea turtles may be hit hard as the oil works its way up the food chain.

The Kemp's ridleys aren't the only turtles in trouble on this year's World Turtle Day, other species are also threatened by habitat destruction, as well as the pet trade and the exotic food industry. In addition to supporting habitat conservation, you can protect turtles by steering clear of turtle cuisine and never buying one from a pet store, since that increases demand for turtles taken from the wild. The sale of turtles or tortoises less than four inches long is illegal in the U.S., and anyone trying to sell hatchlings should be reported. For more tips on how you can help turtles, check out American Tortoise Rescue.

Spread the word on turtle protection and tell Obama to protect wildlife from offshore oil drilling. Maybe by next year's World Turtle Day, these animals will have more reason to celebrate.

Photo credit: qnr