Turtles have been around for a very long time, and have a long life span.
Under normal circumstances one can live to be over one hundred years old.
But this doesn't make a difference when we destroy their homes and the
water they live in becomes polluted.
THE LEATHERBACK TURTLE
This is the world's largest turtle and the largest living
reptile (up to 2.5 m in length and up to 900 kg. Strictly
speaking, the leatherback turtle is not a Canadian species, as it
does not reproduce in Canada. It is a seasonal visitor at the
northern limit of its range up to Labrador in the Atlantic and as
far north as the Alaskan Panhandle. As a cold-blooded animal, the
sea turtle maintains its body temperature far above that of the
chilly seawater by using countercurrent circulation. Blood flowing
out to the fins is so close to blood returning from the fins that
heat is exchanged and carried back to the central body core. The
reason for the far northern migration and the intricate adaptations
is probably diet - the turtle feeds on jellyfish of the genus
_Cyanea_, which can can have a body diameter of two metres. Sea
turtles can be caught in fishing nets and they can starve if they
eat plastic bags. The floating trash looks like jellyfish but does
break down in the gut.
MORE ABOUT SEA TURTLES IN GENERAL AT BOTTOM
THE BOX TURTLE
The North American box turtles are being exported by the thousands to
supply the overseas pet trade.It is wrong to export anything to this point no matter
what country.
But should be delt with the way some other repiles are, breed them to
support the ever growing demade and leave the wild ones alone.
Over seventy thousand box turtles were exported from the United States during the past three years for the overseas pet trade! North American box turtles are already under severe threat due to habitat loss and degradation, and wild populations are decreasing dramatically.
The New York Turtle and Tortoise Society,the Turtle Recovery Progran, the New York Zoological Society
and other organizations across the country are seeking to control this continuing harvest throught CITES(
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) regulation.
THE GOPHER TORTOISE
Also totering on the endangered list and could go extinct in North America is
the Gopher Tortoise,but unlike the box turtle it isn't being sent any
where, it is only being killed off.The loss of its habitat and the hunt
for rattle snakes is killing off the Gopher Tortoise,let me explain alittle more.
Rattle snakes will take over and some times share a Gopher Tortoises home, when people go hunting for the rattle snakes they often pore gas into the hole and if the fumes alone doesn't drive the snake out then they will light it up. At this point the snake will come out(they catch it and leave) but the slow moving tortoise isn't able to get out in time and suffers in the blaze. And now even with knowing this, they still continue to hunt the snakes in this fashion and could care less for the misfortunate Gopher Tortoise that happens to be at home.
Now it is rare to see,I have grown up in the area they come from, and I rarely ever see them any more
HERE ARE SOME FACTS I HAVE FOUND
The Gopher Tortoise is one of four tortoises that occur in North America and is the only one east
of Texas. The Florida population is listed by the FGFWFC as a species of special concern. It has been estimated that the
Florida population will be reduced nearly 70% by 2000 A.D. and could be eliminated from all but
protected lands by 2025 A.D. A combination of habitat
destruction, predation by humans and other animals, and biological characteristics of the tortoise
have placed its existence in jeopardy over most of its range.
Estimated life span of the Gopher Tortoise ranges between 40-60 years to as long as 150 years. Reproduction occurs from February to September, with the peak in May and June . The nest site is excavated by the female in an open sandy spot with direct sunlight. Average clutch size is 6 eggs, but ranges from 3 to 11. Most eggs laid never hatch because of mammalian predators such as Raccoons, Opossums, Foxes, and Armadillos. It is estimated that of every 100 eggs laid, only 1-3 survives to become a reproductive adult . All of these biological characteristics result in a low reproductive rate that makes the Gopher Tortoise susceptible to development or disturbance.
The distribution of the Gopher Tortoise was thought to be limited by their sensitivity to cold climates, the availability of deep, well-drained sandy soils, and a sparse canopy of shrubs and trees. Subsequent research in other habitats has shown that Gopher Tortoises can occur in a variety of conditions.
All tortoises in temperate regions dig some type of burrow , but none use the burrow as consistently as the Gopher Tortoise . Much of its time is spent within the burrow and the burrow serves as a focal point for many above ground activities. Radio-tracked Gopher Tortoises were rarely seen outside the burrow, and retreated into the burrow when approached . The burrow provides refuge from normal fires, predators, and harsh climatic conditions, not only for Gopher Tortoises, but also for at least 39 invertebrate and 42 vertebrate species, several of which are federally or state listed . The Gopher Tortoise is considered a "keystone species" because it provides a significant element to habitat structure that greatly influences the community.
Kennedy Space Center is the largest area of protected habitat for this species along the Atlantic coast of Florida.
Studies on KSC have shown that Gopher Tortoise densities are highest
where herbaceous cover is the highest, and densities tend to decrease with increasing cover of
oaks, shrubs, and pines. Total burrow densities in KSC scrub and slash pine range between
17.5-32.2 burrows/ha, with an average density of 1.3 animals/ha . Tortoise
burrows often vary in states of maintenance, i.e. actively being used by a tortoise; inactive at the
present time, but still intact; or abandoned. In KSC scrub and slash pine flatwoods , it was found
that during much of the year, the number of active burrows can be multiplied by 0.28 to get an
estimate of the average number of tortoises. This correction factor
was determined using a camera system to survey burrows and emphasizes that correction factors
are dependent on habitat and season, and should be applied with caution.
THE SEA TURTLE
I must say my favorite of the
turtles are the sea turtles. I'm not sure why , perhaps it is the graceful
way they swim in the ocean or perhaps there great size. But none the less
I find them amazing.
At the moment I am looking up more information on them. I know that they lay eggs on the beach and then leave them. The babies have no protection or parent there to watch out for them. The eggs are often eaten by birds and other pretators on the beach.Even after hatching the babies must quickly race for the water because birds are there catching them and eating them.Once in the water they are safer, but not totally safe(nothing is ever totally safe).
Also the eggs are destroyed by accident,being dug up by people and also stepped on and crushed. But there are laws against harming them in any way.
I have seen groups of organizations that are working to collect the eggs
and when they hatch release them into the ocean without all the dangers they
have to face on there own.
All six species (another page said 8 so I'm not sure how many) of sea turtles in the U.S. are protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 .
These are the green, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, leatherback, loggerhead and olive ridley sea turtles.
The hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, and leatherback sea turtles are listed as endangered under the ESA.
The loggerhead, green and olive ridley sea turtles are listed as threatened, except for breeding
populations of green sea turtles in Florida and on the Pacific coast of Mexico, and breeding
populations of olive ridley sea turtles on the Pacific coast of Mexico, which are listed as
endangered.
SEA TURTLE UPDATE
Early this year, poachers raided a major nesting ground for the olive ridley sea turtle and stole hundreds of thousands of eggs
the numbers could be as high as 1 million eggs.
Two beaches along the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico were raided while the beaches were temporarily unguarded by the government troops that are suppose to be protecting them.
It was estimated the more than 200 poachers raided at least 10,000 nests over a period of several days.
AFTER complaints from environmentalists, local police were dispatched and they apprehended 3 poachers who had 18,740 eggs.
It has not been determined about the long-term effect this will have, but with this being a species that is already endangered and the huge number that is now gone, you can imagine the impact this is going to have.
This in my opinion is just one more example of MONEY being put above everything else. The poachers did it to make money, nothing more.
But I have to wonder why the troops protecting them just left for days and had to be called by environmentalist in order to return.
the sea turtle picture and background came from a geocities neighbor
if you would like to check out her home page here is the link
http://www.oocities.org/Heartland/Prairie/1454
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