The biggest issue impacting these animals is the loss or fragmentation of their natural habitat. Turtle habitats of all kinds are being degraded and destroyed at an alarming rate. Wetlands are drained, forests are destroyed and waterfronts are developed. Turtles are literally losing their homes.
North American Map Turtle
Turtles have been on this Earth for well over 200 million years.
Now, however, the turtle is facing a grim future. Over half of the
world's turtle species are now at risk of extinction.
The turtle's current state of danger is due to the actions of
people! There are several different factors contributing to the
endangerment of the world's turtles.
Chinese Big Headed Turtle
The biggest issue impacting these animals is the loss or
fragmentation of their natural habitat. Turtle habitats of all kinds
are being degraded and destroyed at an alarming rate. Wetlands are
drained, forests are destroyed and waterfronts are developed.
Turtles are literally losing their homes.
The loss of habitat and the increase of human activities and
recreation on the water and on beaches also affects turtles and
their nests in a negative way. Waterfront developments restrict
turtles from prime basking and nesting sites. Containments and
sewage runoff from such developments can also cause harm to turtles.
Pesticides, oils, chemicals, and industrial pollution may
contaminate the habitats of turtles and their local prey items. When
the turtles eat contaminated prey, they may become poisoned and die.
These developments may also cause water levels to rise which can
drown nest sites, destroying turtle eggs. Recreational activities on
the water can also have devastating impacts on turtles, such as
being killed or severely injured when they are hit by boats or water
vehicles. Fishermen will often kill turtles for fear of the turtles
preying on game fish. Driving on beaches with cars and four wheelers
can destroy nests in the sand.
Midland Painted Turtle
Where good habitat does exist it is often altered by roads and
highways. This leads to the deaths of countless turtles on roads
when they are struck by vehicles. Legions of turtles must cross
roads when looking for nest sites to lay their eggs. This is
particularly detrimental to turtle populations because not only does
it lead to the death of a large portion of the breeding population
(i.e. the mature female turtles) but the next generation of turtles
is also killed off when the eggs are destroyed. This can lead to
local populations of turtle species becoming exterminated. Even if
the female turtles do successfully find nesting spots and lay their
eggs, the baby turtles have a small chance of reaching maturity.
Nests are often destroyed by predators like raccoons and skunks.
While human activities have had negative impacts on turtles, they
have helped increase these turtle predators. Human waste provides an
unlimited food source for these predators. This has caused their
populations to grow and this surplus of predators takes a very heavy
toll on turtle nests.
Turtles, including rare and endangered ones, also suffer from being
harvested from the wild at an almost unfathomable rate. Turtles and
their eggs are collected for the pet trade, food markets or to be
used in traditional medicines. Sometimes the turtles and their eggs
are captured right off nesting sites. Many turtle species are also
hunted to be killed for meat.
When the factors above are combined, it accounts for a massive
amount of turtles being lost. This is why the conservation and
protection of these animals is paramount for their survival.