According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, almost all sea turtle species are endangered due to poaching and exploitation. They are also threatened by habitat degradation and unintentional entanglement in fishing gear.
Some of the significant threats to sea turtle existence include:
Ocean Pollution
Plastic-polluted oceans (dubbed “plastic soup” by scientists) are littered with plastic fragments of all shapes and sizes (large, micro and nanoplastics). Unfortunately, these microscopic plastic particles are mistaken for food by marine life, resulting in adverse health repercussions up the food chain.
Climate Change
Climate change affects turtle breeding and nesting sites by causing sand temperatures to fluctuate, disrupting new turtle birth and sex ratios.
Overfishing
Fish depletion as a result of large-scale fisheries, trawls and fishnets catching fish severely disrupt fish ecosystems and cause contribute to sea turtle extinction. Turtles may also choke on nets while trying to pass through.
Exploitation & Poaching
Sea turtles are also being depleted as a result of illicit poaching, as previously indicated. The goal of such actions is to sell turtles as food or to use turtle shells. Due to the scarcity of sea turtles, poachers can make a lot of money.
Animals That Will Be Extinct By 2050
- Sea Turtle
- Bee
- Polar Bear
- Tiger
- Cheetah
- Bali Tiger
- Javan Tiger
- Caspian Tiger
- Dolphin
