This 23rd of May, we celebrate the annual World Turtle Day, sponsored yearly since 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue. This day we uplift to bring attention to and increase knowledge and respect for turtles and tortoises and encourage humanity to take actions to help their population survive and thrive.
World Turtle Day was established as a yearly observance to help people celebrate and protect turtles, tortoises, and disappearing habitats worldwide. The founders of ATR and World Turtle Day, Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson advocate for the humane treatment of all animals, including reptiles. They have placed over 4,000 tortoises and turtles in loving homes since 1990. In addition, they assist law enforcement when undersized or endangered turtles are confiscated and provide helpful information and referrals to people who have sick, neglected, or abandoned turtles. Around the world, this day was observed in a variety of ways. For example, many people dress up as turtles, while others wear green clothing. People also become actively involved in projects that aid in the rescue of turtles found in their neighborhoods.
The Philippines is considered a home sanctuary to 5 of the seven sea turtle species across the globe. These are Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta), and Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). The green and olive ridley turtles are the most common nesters, followed by the Hawksbill turtle but rarely the leatherback turtles. Only the loggerhead turtle has no record of nesting in the Philippines.
Disastrously, human activities have tipped the scales against the survival of these ancient mariners over the last 200 years. Sea turtles are poached and over-exploited because they are slaughtered for their eggs, meat, skin, and shells. They also suffered habitat destruction and accidental capture in fishing gear, known as bycatch. Aside from that, climate change also affects turtle nesting sites and threatens turtle population by changing sand temperatures, which tends to affect the sex of hatchlings. As a result, almost all sea turtle species are now endangered, with three of the seven remaining species critically endangered.
To urgently respond to the sufferings of these endangered species, the Philippine Government established the Task Force Pawikan (Marine Turtle Task Force), now known as the Pawikan Conservation Project (PCP); it was instituted by Executive Order No. 542, signed on June 26, 1979. It ensures the survival and growth of the country's remaining marine turtle populations. Also, it strongly prioritizes the development and implementation of conservation and protection policies, management and propagation schemes, and public information and education programs. The project is currently assigned to the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Wildlife Division (DENR). It has a national scope with pilot sites in Tawi-Tawi and El Nido in the Turtle Island Group (Bacuit Bay in Northwestern Palawan).
The extinction of turtles may quickly occur if we do not act now, so to avert this future catastrophe and save and recover their population, we must begin to act now, even in small ways. We can achieve this by taking care of our oceans, practicing proper waste disposal, and supporting and participating in advocacy campaigns and activities aimed at saving turtles. Furthermore, we must collaborate to keep them because they play an essential role in our ocean ecosystems by balancing marine food webs and maintaining healthy reefs and seagrass beds, which serve as critical habitat for other aquatic organisms.
Let us all start working together to show our collective efforts and support for the various movements and advocacies prescribed for conservation, protection, and rescuing turtles and tortoises since they play an essential role on this planet. Let us not be their greatest threat, but rather their greatest hope. Every action counts, and we can make a significant difference in their lives. So, today, let us begin to turn the tide and save one of the sea's friends.
23 May 2021
REFERENCES:
American Tortoise Rescue.(2015).World Turtle Day.https://www.worldturtleday.org/
Awareness Days.(2021).World Turtle Day.
Trono,R.B.(n.d.).Philippine Marine Turtle Conservation Program.
World Wildlife Fund.(n.d.).Sea Turtles.
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