Did you know that sea turtles have been on earth for over 100 million years? This means that sea turtles co-existed with dinosaurs. How crazy is that?1?
In recognition of National Sea Turtle Day, we wanted to provide a few fun facts about sea turtles.
- Sea turtles can live between 50 to 100 years
- Some sea turtles travel more than 1,000 miles to return to their nesting ground
- Sea turtles nest multiple times, about 2 weeks apart, and lay up to 125 eggs per nest
- Most sea turtles nest at night, except for the Kemp's ridley
- Leatherback sea turtles can dive nearly 4,000 feet into the water
- Unlike other kinds of turtles, sea turtles cannot retreat into their shell
- A large group of nesting sea turtles is called an "arribadas", which is Spanish for "arrival"
How to Observe World Sea Turtle Day
- Donate to a marine wildlife organization that works to protect the sea turtles. A great one to consider is our local Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch who works tirelessly to protect our local sea turtle population and their nests.
- Adopt a sea turtle through the Marine Conservation Society.
- Avoid throwing plastic and other harmful debris into waterways and encourage others to do the same.
- Watch movies that feature sea turtles, such as Finding Nemo, A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures, Turtle: The Incredible Journey, and Moana.
-Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer