United States of the World celebrates World Turtle Day
Secretary General Michele Capasso in connection with the Tokyo office highlighted the importance of protecting sea turtles, peaceful and ancient creatures of high biological importance.
16 June marks World Sea Turtle Day, Turtle Day, established to highlight the need to protect these magnificent creatures. The date chosen is a tribute to Professor Archie Carr, born on 16 June 1909, a great turtle scholar.
"Sea turtles," said SG Capasso, "deserve to live regardless, but there would be sufficient reason even if we looked at them with the utilitarian eye typical of our species. These animals, for instance, help regulate jellyfish and sponge populations, some species feed on algae and other marine plants, thus limiting their spread and 'creating' habitats for many marine species. All seven existing turtle species are in fact endangered: they are the loggerhead turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), the Kemp's turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), the olive turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the flatback turtle (Natator depressus).
The life of sea turtles,' SG Capasso concluded, 'is a constant struggle for survival, starting from the exact moment they take the snout out of the egg, the percentage of hatchlings destined to reach adulthood is about one in a thousand. As soon as they are born, the baby turtles emerge from their nests and 'run' towards the water, listening to a mute ancestral call. To reach the sea they have to avoid a large number of predators, such as seagulls, crabs and even crocodiles.
In theory, once they reach adulthood, these reptiles would be difficult to attack, protected by an impregnable carapace and able to swim at speeds in excess of 35 kilometres per hour. However, the sea is full of man-made dangers against which turtles, despite considerable experience over 150 million years, are not equipped'.
