THE ENDANGERMENT OF THE TURTLE
Leatherback, or the Dermochelys Conacea, sea turtles have been dying to human hands. Although in the Atlantic they have been increasing in population due to the U.S. Endangered Species Act, but in the Pacific it is only decreasing. Their eggs are being harvested, they are getting captured , people are simply building over their homes, and they are losing their food source.
Egg Harvesting
Although there is a law going against poaching, the act of selling their eggs, meat, and shells, people still do it illegally. In many countries there is nothing stopping them from this poaching, where the law doesn't exist, so people eat the turtles for their own consumption without thought. In other places, they use their meat and shells for ceremonies, for things such as jewels. In the United States we would like to go against these traditions in other countries, but sadly, people do it illegally and no one stops them, using them for a source of protein and aphrodisiac.
Accidental Capturing of the Leatherback
Fishermen have constantly been capturing, accidentally, leatherback sea turtles and injuring them, or even killing them in the process. 150,000 different species of turtles are killed annually due to this. 50,000 leatherbacks are captured due to this trapping, but the Federal government has made a device where it would be impossible for a large marine animal, such as the leatherback, to be captured. The device, Turtle Excluder Devices, TEDs, only allows smaller animals to be captured, if a large animal goes inside of the trap, they are instantly ejected out of the trap. Although, some fishermen do not want to work with this machinery just to prevent capturing and potentially killing the turtles.
Habitat Destruction
The leatherback has always been nesting on shores to lay their eggs for the future generations to come. Sadly, beaches are made over these nests and the local people destroy the eggs without noticing it. while driving and sunbathing. Turtles are frightened away by the humans, having to lay their eggs somewhere else or not being able to do anything at all.