This Is the Only Place in the World Where an Endangered Sea Turtle Is Thriving

[Omaha Steve]

More than 20 years of conservation work in the South Pacific has contributed to a huge increase in nesting turtles on islands where they were once nearly wiped out.


(Photo: James R.D. Scott/Getty Images)

http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/04/08/only-place-south-pacific-hawksbill-sea-turtles-thriving

April 08, 2015 By John R. Platt

John R. Platt covers the environment, technology, philanthropy, and more for Scientific American, Conservation, Lion, and other publications.


One of the historically worst places in the world for critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles has become the locus of the species’ greatest success story.

Just 20 years ago, the population of hawksbill turtles in the Arnavon Islands of the South Pacific was nearly wiped out, the result of nearly two centuries of exploitation. But a paper published on Wednesday in PLOS One reports that hawksbill turtles are now making twice as many nests there as they did two decades ago. More eggs are hatching, and more females are returning to nest multiple times.

The signs strongly suggest that the hawksbills of the Arnavons have begun to recover.

During the 19th century, the blood of hawksbill turtles routinely stained these beaches. Chiefs from New Georgia Island raided the Arnavons regularly and killed the turtles for their valuable shells. Then they traded the shells to whalers in exchange for iron, which they forged into tomahawks for use in headhunting assaults against other groups in the Solomon Islands.

FULL story at link.

[lovemydog]

1. K & R for good news!

I love sea turtles.

[rhett o rick]

2. k & r. Thanks for posting. nm