Wildlife

Welfare of Sea Turtles

All seven sea turtle species face threats from human activity, and individual turtles frequently need rehabilitation after entanglement, ingestion of debris, or boat strikes.

Key Facts

Six of seven sea turtle species are listed as threatened or endangered
Loggerhead turtles can live over 70 years and travel thousands of miles to nest
Plastic bag ingestion causes intestinal blockage and is a leading cause of sea turtle death
Light pollution on beaches disorients hatchlings that navigate toward the sea by moonlight
Sea turtle rehabilitation centers treat thousands of injured animals annually

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtles experience welfare insults at multiple life stages: adults face entanglement in fishing gear, boat strikes, and plastic ingestion; hatchlings face disorientation from light pollution and beach obstacles; nests are disturbed by predators and development. Rehabilitation of individual turtles is valuable both for animal welfare and public engagement with conservation. Long-term welfare improvement requires addressing systemic threats at scale.

What You Can Do

Reduce single-use plastic to prevent ocean pollution that harms sea turtles
Turn off beach lights during nesting season if you live near nesting beaches
Support sea turtle rehabilitation centers with donations or volunteering
Advocate for bycatch reduction devices in commercial fishing in turtle habitats