Why are sea turtles endangered in the Great Barrier Reef?

Why are sea turtles endangered in the Great Barrier Reef?

Researchers believe that a severe loss of sea grass, the turtles’ staple food source, is to blame for the escalating death toll. Widespread floods and the subsequent Cyclone Yasi, which hit northern Queensland in February, wiped out around 90% of the seagrass in certain areas of the Great Barrier Reef coast.

What turtle is not found on the Great Barrier Reef?

Some species such as the loggerhead and green turtle are seen frequently, while others such as the olive ridley and leatherback are known to occur in the Great Barrier Reef but are seldom seen.

What turtles are found on the Great Barrier Reef?

Leatherback, green turtle, loggerhead turtle, hawksbill turtle, flatback turtle and Olive Ridley turtle are all regular visitors to our shores.

How many turtles are left in the Great Barrier Reef?

Residing primarily in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Green Turtle is a famous Reef local. Up to 60,000 female green turtles congregate on the tiny Raine Island each nesting season.

Do turtles cry?

Turtles cry a lot …but not because they’re upset. Instead, turtles have glands that help them remove excess salt from their eyes.

Do butterflies drink turtle tears?

“The turtles have enough tears to feed the butterflies simply because the butterflies are taking so little,” he said. “They simply uptake salts through a process similar to absorption by placing the proboscis on the salt-laden (tears) and passively ‘feed. ‘”

How many babies can a turtle have?

Depending on species, turtles can lay between 3-200 eggs in one nest. Most of the Eggs won’t hatch and survive so Turtles usually have 1-10 surviving babies. Pet turtles lay 15 eggs in a nest on average.

How many sea turtles are killed each year?

4,600 sea turtles
The researchers estimated that 4,600 sea turtles currently perish each year in U.S. coastal waters, but nevertheless represents a 90-percent reduction in previous death rates.”