![]() Approximately 2,000 hawksbills nest annually on the northwest coast of Australia and 6,000 to 8,000 nest annually in the vicinity of the Great Barrier Reef. The largest nesting populations of hawksbill turtles occur in Australia and Solomon Islands. The largest populations of hawksbills are found in the west Atlantic (Caribbean), Indian, and Indo-Pacific Oceans. Hawksbill turtles often nest in small numbers, and usually on remote beaches. And we fund research, monitoring, and conservation projects to implement priorities outlined in recovery plans. We engage our partners as we develop measures and recovery plans that foster the conservation and recovery of hawksbill turtles and their habitats. We use a variety of innovative techniques to study, protect, and recover this endangered species. NOAA Fisheries and our partners are dedicated to protecting and recovering hawksbill turtle populations worldwide. Today, the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) forbids the trade of any turtle products on the international market, including hawksbill tortoise shell, but illegal hunting continues to represent a threat to the species in many parts of the world. The historical hunting and killing of hawksbills for their shell nearly drove the species to extinction. In many parts of the world, hawksbills face the unique threat of being hunted for their beautiful shell, also known as “tortoise shell”, which is used by craftspeople to create many types of jewelry and trinkets. Hawksbill turtles play a key role in the function of marine ecosystems. They are the only species of sea turtle that can survive on a diet consisting mainly of sponges. Hawksbills get their name from their unique beak-like mouth, which resembles that of a hawk and is perfect for finding food sources in hard-to-reach cracks and crevices. One of the easiest ways you can help save marine animals from balloons is by not participating in intentional balloon releases and by helping us educate others about the negative impacts of marine debris.Hawksbill sea turtles inhabit the tropical and sub-tropical waters of all of the world’s major oceans. Not all animals are as lucky as Emma, and cannot be helped when they mistake colorful balloons and their strings as food like jellyfish. This debris traps, entangles, suffocates and kills thousands of marine animals every year. When balloons are released they blow away, pop or deflate, and fall back to the Earth - usually in the ocean - as marine debris. During her stay, as many as 20 sea turtles came in for treatment and were found to be impacted by balloon debris as well.Įmma is just one of many animals that fall victim to balloon pollution. ![]() ![]() The scar around her neck from the balloon strings will be there forever. Joe Flanagan of the Houston Zoo, Emma was successfully rehabilitated and released a few weeks later. With immediate treatment and care from NOAA staff and veterinarian Dr. He also found a dead pelican attached to balloons.Īfter realizing she was still alive, Justin quickly cut the strings and rushed Emma to the NOAA Galveston Sea Turtle Research Facility. A deflated red balloon was still attached, and Justin could see more balloons out on the beach. The turtle - later named Emma after Justin’s daughter - had a thick clump of tangled balloon strings wrapped around her neck. In May 2018, Justin Williams, a volunteer with Turtle Island Restoration Network, was walking on the shores of Surfside, Texas when he found a juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtle lying still next to the ocean’s edge. ![]()
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