Climate change threatens sea turtles through rising sand temperatures that skew sex ratios, bleaching coral reefs that reduce foraging habitat, and intensifying storms that destroy nesting beaches. Understanding these threats informs welfare-focused conservation responses.
Climate change creates welfare impacts across the sea turtle life cycle. Hatchlings from overheated nests show reduced fitness and impaired thermoregulation. Fibropapillomatosis causes tumours that impair vision, swimming, and feeding, with affected turtles experiencing prolonged decline before death or rehabilitation. Foraging habitat loss from coral bleaching forces turtles to travel farther, increasing exposure to boat strike and entanglement. Conservation responses — including beach shading, nest relocation, and rehabilitation of disease-affected turtles — provide direct welfare benefits while adaptation of nesting populations proceeds over generations. Climate mitigation is ultimately the most impactful welfare intervention for this species.