The sea reptile has been safely recovered from the edge of disappearance in what scientists are describing a important preservation success.
Historically intensively captured for culinary purposes, its young as a luxury food and decorative shells, the historic species saw its numbers drop sharply and has been categorized as at-risk since the 1980s.
Currently, thanks to long periods of worldwide preservation actions - from securing offspring and releasing babies on shores to minimizing accidental capture in fishing nets - new data shows marine turtle numbers are rebounding.
Protection Measures Generate Positive Results
Green turtles are among the biggest varieties of ocean reptiles, named for the olive color of their tissue fat, which results from their herbivorous diet.
They are one of 7 living types of marine turtles, two of them are highly at-risk.
"Ocean reptiles are iconic and appealing creatures... they motivate individuals," he commented. "Many thousands of individuals have been laboring for decades to try and look after these species, and certainly, it has made a difference."
The protection measures involve watching shores, safeguarding females and their young at reproduction areas, letting go baby turtles into the sea, education and awareness to reduce turtles being killed for meat and eggs, and implementing measures to halt turtles being caught in commercial nets.
New Endangered Animals Inventory
The most recent threatened registry of endangered creatures was disclosed at a important international protection congress.
The unenviable list now includes over 172,000 species, of which nearly 49,000 are endangered with oblivion.
Animals are shifted between categories when recent statistics shows variations in their numbers, environment or dangers.
If a species becomes more endangered - for instance, its population decrease or its habitat is affected - it may be shifted to a more threatened classification such as Endangered; if it improves thanks to conservation efforts, it may transition to a less endangered group like Near Threatened or Minimal Risk.
Ongoing Threats
The green turtle has been downgraded from Endangered to Minimal Risk. However, despite recent gains, green turtles are still far below their previous numbers due to former overexploitation and continuing dangers like marine harvesting, living space reduction and environmental shifts.
In areas like particular zones, less young are appearing, showing that preservation actions are still urgently needed.
Other Creatures Experience Increased Dangers
The modification to the at-risk list brought bad news for further creatures, including polar seals, which are progressing nearer to oblivion as ocean ice is disappearing to global warming.
The Arctic species has shifted from At Risk to Endangered, while the bearded and harp seals are now Becoming Endangered due to shrinking frozen water.
Arctic seals depend on sea ice for reproduction, resting and feeding, and its disappearance puts their survival at risk.
