World Turtles Day was originally founded by the power couple Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson with the primary aim of raising awareness about the conservation of turtles and tortoises. In the early 2000s, they initiated a non-profit organisation called the ATR (American Tortoise Rescue), and since then, World Turtle Day has been celebrated annually on the 23rd of May.
Now, one may wonder how turtles and tortoises are differentiated. One of the significant differences is that turtles live on land as well as in water. Tortoises live only on land.
Surprisingly though, as hard as their shells can be, they are indeed very coy creatures and quite vulnerable.
It is imperative that we completely stand up to collaboratively participate worldwide to conserve our Turtle community and maintain an ecological balance in our oceans. Yes, you read that right. These fascinating creatures feed on the dead fish that wash up on the shores thereby clearing off any waste.
Did you know that turtles are considered the oldest reptile group in the world? They were discovered about 200 million years ago. Turtles have quite a long lifespan. The turtle that lived the longest was called Tu'i Malila in Tonga Island and supposedly lived for 128 years surpassing the lifespan of a human.
The manner of deciphering the gender of Turtles is amazing. It depends on the temperature at which they are born. If it is warmer than 28°C then it is determined that it is a female.
There are many breeds of turtles. Some of the most popular are Eastern Box, Red-eared Slider, painted etc. Though of course, the largest and fastest breed of turtles is the leatherback sea turtle which can bear heavy clutches of eggs.
How can we be actively involved in the conservation of these incredible amniotes?
First and foremost it is of paramount importance that we adhere and stick to the 3 R's. (reduce, reuse, recycle). The more we reduce marine debris it prevents the sea turtles from consuming them.
Support animal conservation organisations and participate in coastal clean-ups.
Clean up after you and avoid throwing trash on the shores.
Research and gain more knowledge about our coy crusaders thereby gaining insight into better conservation of them.
People around the world commemorate World Turtle Day in various ways. People organise a variety of events and activities to promote turtle preservation. On this day, some people rescue turtles from highways and roads and return them to their native habitats.
Conclusively, in my perspective, there is a beautiful thought that can be grasped from these little creatures. ‘It is easy to gauge someone's demeanour externally, however, one often misapprehends it with the internal. How inwardly appeasing are we?’
Let us spread love and be like our Turtle friends. At peace in our own little carapace.
Happy turtle day 2024!
Good article !
Insightful and clearly presented.
Great article! Clear, insightful, and very well-researched.
Nice and perfect article!
Perfectly curated article at the need of the hour addressing a vital topic.
Good Work!