You know what turtles are, but your children might not know what turtles look like. They might not even know there is an animal called turtle in the world. Dose this not scare you? This situation might probably come true. That’s because turtles are endangered and getting less and less. “At least 8,354 Olive Ridley turtles have been found dead on the beaches and near the river mouths” (Thousands of Olive Ridley massacred again, 2008, para. 6). In India, people use mechanized trawlers for fishing, but the nets not only catch fish but also catch turtles. When turtles want to escape, they will get hurt from the nets. If turtles get hurt, they cannot live longer. And then turtle’s amounts have become less. Even though the India government wants people to stop using nets, it doesn’t work. People still use nets because fishing is the only way they can get the money for supporting their life. “In the past 14 years, more than 130,000 turtles have been found dead on the Orissa coast, which has earned it the dubious title of being the ‘world’s largest turtle graveyard’” (Thousands of Olive Ridley massacred again, 2008, para. 12). This situation shows that endangered turtles’ problems have become more serious than before; people have to protect turtles. Otherwise, turtles will become extinct. Many groups are trying to solve this problem. They use all measures for protection, including asking for police’s help (Thousands of Olive Ridley massacred again, 2008). “Discarded nets are causing untold damage to sea life” (Ocean ghosts wait for the unwary, 2008, para. 1). Humans have responsibility for saving turtles because human activities cause turtles’ death. If turtles die, the ecological system will be destroyed. Some species will be strong and some will disappear. No one can imagine how terrible the ecosystem under the water will be. People have to prevent this situation from happening. Therefore, humans have to find some solutions for endangered turtles.
In “Sea turtles face threat from India ports plan” the author states, “Over the past 13 years, more than 130,000 Olive Ridleys have been washed up dead in the area, after being caught in the nets of trawlers and gill netters. And now the species (is) listed as ‘vulnerable’ by the World Conservation Union” (2007, para. 4). Most articles mention one thing, which is the Olive Ridley turtles are going extinct. The main reason that the articles show is that people abuse nets. In “Olive Ridley Sea Turtles” the author states, “Olive Ridleys suffer high mortality rates from gill nets and trawl fisheries” (n.d. para.9). That is a big amount of turtles that die because of nets. So, people have to stop using nets. Also water and beach pollution are threats for turtles. People throw trash into the water or on the beach. That trash can cause turtles’ death, because turtles don’t know whether it is food or not. People can see some pictures that show there is some trash in turtles’ dead bodies. So, polluted water and beaches are problems now. “Nearly 50 per cent of the world’s Olive Ridley population turn up at the Orissa coast ever year and use the nesting sites to lay eggs on the beach” (India: Sea erosion threat to Olive Ridleys, 2008, para. 6). “If the erosion of beaches continue with such a pace, it wouldn’t be surprising if the nesting turtles abandon the Orissa coast altogether,” said the secretary of the Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO)” (India: Sea erosion threat to Olive Ridleys, 2008, para. 7). “Once the ports start being operational, the erosion would be unstoppable. “’Unless the government erects a sea wall across the entire 476km stretch along the Orissa coastline,’ the secretary said” (2008, para. 13). Many problems cause turtles’ death. And every year the amount of dead turtles is more than people can imagine. Therefore, people have to stop doing harmful activities and make some solutions. Then, turtles will have more chance to live.
First, humans caused this situation; turtles are endangered. In “Thousands of Olive Ridleys massacred again” the author states, “More than 8,000 endangered Olive Ridley turtles are said to have been killed over past three months by mechanized trawlers along the Orissa coast in eastern India, home to the world’s largest nesting site for turtles” (2008, para.1). Humans also killed turtles for their meat and eggs. That’s because some people believe that eating turtles could make them healthier. In “Olive Ridley Sea Turtle” the author states, “ Of all the sea turtles, olive ridley populations are relatively healthy. Still, there are so few left that in 1978, the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed the Mexican nesting populations of olive ridleys as endangered – and all others throughout the world as threatened, and at this time, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) lists all populations of olive ridleys as endangered. Olive ridleys are also listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES), which means that trade in olive ridleys, their eggs or any part or product derived from the turtles is forbidden” (n. d., para. 7). And the water pollution also is a problem for turtles. In “Olive Ridley Sea Turtle” the author states “Olive Ridleys also fall victim to water pollution. Adding to these environmental hazards, the Olive Ridley is jeopardized by trade, too: highly prized in Japan for its meat and eggs, the turtles are illegally hunted to supply this trade” (n. d. para.9). Polluted beaches is also a threat for turtles because the beach is the nesting site for turtles. “Wildlife conservationists are already concerned as progressive erosion has created an unstable beach profile along the coast” (India: Sea erosion threat to Olive Ridleys, 2008, para. 2). “It has started to destroy the most preferred nesting grounds of endangered sea turtles” (para. 3). If the beach’s situation becomes serious, turtles don’t have nesting site to live in. That will quicken their death. These are the reasons for turtles’ deaths. Therefore, people have to stop doing these actions to protect turtles.
Second, technology can protect turtles. Our technology is very progressed. So, people can use our technology to fix some problems. For example, people can use artificial incubation. And then we can change some genes that will help turtles have a strong life. They will not die easily when they are young. And their numbers will grow. Also that can help them accept the environmental change. Or people also can use technology to clean the trash or pollutants in the water or beach. That can reduce the numbers of turtles’ death. That is a way that turtles might not be extinct so quickly. Also, people can rescue turtles by technology. In “India: Olive Ridley turtle rescued from Juhu dies” the author states, “At the start of the monsoon this year, three full-grown turtles were rescued – one from the Juhu beach and two from Cuffe Parade – and sent to the BSPCA. Olive Ridley turtles, known for their group nesting activity on the shores of Orissa every winter, are listed as endangered in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red list” (2008, para. 3). People can use advanced technology for saving turtles because they have enough time to send turtles to hospitals. That can reduce the death amount of turtles. “Meanwhile, the forest department has handed over 10-kg carcass to taxidermist Dr Santosh Gaikwad for preservation. Gaikwad said, ‘ I have started working on preservation of the turtle and it will be complete in about two months’ (India: Olive Ridley turtle recurred from Juhu dies, 2008, para. 5). That shows people can protect turtles by prevention. Don’t wait until turtles die. People can protect turtles before they die.
Third, government can use some ways to stop people from killing or catching turtles. For example, government should stop people from using nets for turtles or arrange a place that turtles usually assemble when people cannot use nets for fishing. Making laws is always a good and quick way to set people to stop doing such harmful activities. Also government can make a good model for protecting turtles. And then people will follow the ways that the government did. If that works, turtles can be protected. And we don’t worry that turtles will be extinct. In “ Ocean ghosts wait for the unwary; Marine life” the author states, “Luckily for the turtles, there are “ghost busters” who are determined to rid the gulf of these environmental vandals” (2008, para. 7). “Riki Gunn is one of the ghost busters. She is the project co-ordinator for the Carpentaria ghost nets program” (2008, para. 8). “So far the program has removed 80,141 metres of net from remote areas in the gulf” (2008, para. 9). Government can cooperate with environmental groups. That can help the government to protect turtles more easily. On the other hand, local people can use nets for making some souvenirs for tourists. That can help people have extra income (Ocean ghosts wait for the unwary; Marine life, 2008). “The community knows what will and won’t work for them. They understand the local attitudes, capabilities and most importantly the environment that they live in” (Ocean ghosts wait for the unwary; Marine life, 2008, para. 25). “’I can see (the floating fishing nets will be eliminated) happening in my lifetime but there needs to be lots of co-operation between governments to bring in registration of fishing gear,’ Gunn says” (2008, para. 29). So, government can use different ways to protect turtles. They have a lot of resources that they can use. Therefore, endangered turtles can be rescued.
Opponents say that even though turtles are endangered, it is not a problem for our life. They said our life would not have any problem if we don’t have turtles. Human still can live. Human won’t die if there are not turtles in the world. However, if there are no Olive Ridley turtles, the ecosystem will have big problems. The ecosystem will lose its balance. “Omnivorous, (Olive Ridley turtles) feed in waters up to 500 feet deep. With their powerful jaws, they consume a varied diet: bottom-dwelling crustaceans, mussels, fish, jellyfish, crabs, shrimp, and mollusks” (Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, n. d., para. 3). Some species will get bigger and some species will get less. That will influence all marine animals. Species will disappear one by one. After that there might not be anything in the water. That still would influence human life, because people wouldn’t have seafood they could catch. Also turtles are very useful for research. People still research some species that we don’t know or we didn’t discover. Turtles’ evolution is interesting for bionomist. So, people cannot let turtles become extinct, or some important information might be lost. Turtles have their own evolution in the water ecosystem.
In conclusion, any species is valuable. Humans have to learn how to respect each species. They also have life. People cannot kill them so easily. As a result, people have to protect turtles. They have to stop using nets and some harmful tools. That will hurt turtles’ body when people are fishing. Turtles’ bodies are weaker than people can imagine. Next, people can use technology to fix the problem of endangered turtles. People can embed the Id in turtles’ bodies. That can control turtles’ situation everywhere. Then, people can prevent some situations. Then people can prepare for saving turtles. Finally, Government should have power to stop people from using nets. Environmental groups are the good helper for protecting turtles with the government. If people can do these, turtles will have the chance to live. But first is that people have the mind that we have to protect turtles.
Reference
India: Olive Ridley turtle rescued from Juhu dies. (2008, September 2). IOSEAMarine Turtle MoU Secretariat. Retrieved November 4, 2008, from http://www. ioseaturtles.org/headline_detail.php?id=1081
India: Sea erosion threat to Olive Ridleys. (2008, August 23). IOSEAMarine Turtle MoU Secretariat. Retrieved November 4, 2008 from http://www.ioseaturtles.org/headline_detail.php?id=1070
Ocean ghosts wait for the unwary; Marine life. (2008, October 15). Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved November 4, 2008, from LexisNexis Academic.
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle. (n. d.). The Humane Society of the United States. Retrieved November 4, 2008, from http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/a_closer_look_ at_wildlife/ turtles_and_tortoises/olive_ridley_sea_turtle.html
Sea turtles face threat from Indian ports plan. (2007, December 3). The Independent. Retrieved November 4, 2008, from http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/sea-turtles-face-threat-from-indian-ports-plan-761355.html
Thousands of Olive Ridley massacred again. (2008, February 1). IOSEAMarine Turtle MoU Secretariat. Retrieved November 4, 2008, from http://www. ioseaturtles.org/headline_detail.php?id=872
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