Are you ready to discover the turtle’s biggest enemy?
Today we’ll be taking a closer look at turtles, but more importantly, the one thing that is posing a huge threat to them, and all other marine life: plastic.
The Incredible Turtle
Turtles are remarkable creatures that thrive both in water and on land, having inhabited the Earth’s seas, oceans, and rivers for over 200 million years. Their unique shells and long lifespans make them truly special. Surprisingly, their biggest threat isn’t predators like sharks or killer whales, but the plastic caused by human negligence, irresponsibly discarded by people. Turtles play a crucial role in our ecosystem, and it’s essential to protect them.
Turtles: A Refresher Course
Turtles belong to the chelonioidea family and inhabit both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Unlike tortoises, which are part of the Testudinidae family and live solely on land, turtles have a unique shell made of two parts: the carapace (top) and the plastron (bottom). They vary in size from the small bog turtles to the giant leatherback sea turtles. Known for their long lifespans, some turtles can live up to 100 years in the wild, though tortoises often live even longer. Turtles play a crucial role in marine ecosystems and are an important part of the food chain.
How Plastic Waste is Endangering Turtles
Sadly, turtles face threats due to human oversight and indiscretion. One of the biggest threats is plastic waste. Plastic waste is one of the most pervasive pollutants in the world’s oceans, and it has a devastating effect on the world’s marine ecosystem. Plastic waste often finds its way into the oceans and can be mistaken for food by turtles. If eaten, it can cause several health ailments, including intestinal blockages, infection, and even death. Additionally, plastic and straws often become entangled in turtles’ shells, preventing them from swimming and feeding properly, consequently causing starvation.
Straws and Other Plastics are Killing Turtles
Plastic straws are among the most common forms of plastic waste polluting our oceans. Other dangerous plastics include bags, which turtles often mistake for food, as well as bottles and fishing nets that can cause entanglement and suffocation. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), about 8 million metric tons of plastic enter our oceans each year, in turn causing 46% of sea turtles and 90% of seabirds having ingested plastic. Plastic pollution kills roughly 100,000 sea turtles and 1 million seabirds annually. Despite this, 8.3 billion plastic straws are still discarded yearly, highlighting an urgent need for action to protect marine life.
The Future of Turtles if Humans Don’t Help
If nothing is done to reduce plastic pollution in our oceans, the future of turtles will be extremely bleak – if they even have a future. The effects of plastic pollution can be devastating and lead to serious health problems for turtles. In addition, plastic pollution can also damage their habitats, reducing food availability and making it difficult for them to
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