By Samantha Weckwerth and Jenna Thomas

Who would think a relaxing family vacation would turn into an adventurous day spent at a turtle farm? Senior Samantha Weckwerth and her family while vacationing in Florida this past summer took a day trip to Jupiter, Florida to visit the luxurious beaches, grab a bite to eat at the local restaurant, and take their younger cousins to the nearby turtle farm. The Loggerhead Marine Life Center is located on Juno beach; the center helps heal injured or sick turtles.

During the scorching summer days, many turtles are rescued and sheltered at the farm, located minutes away from many beaches, where experts then try to cure disease and injuries put upon them. Once healed and cured, the turtles are released back into their natural habitat where they are able to be healthy in their environment.  People need to be educated and cautioned of the poor oceanic environment that turtles are living in every day.

Due to the lack of education about water pollution, unfortunately, humans endanger many underwater animals who struggle to stay alive in a polluted habitat. Many turtles are affected by malnutrition, pollution, and injury. Many causes of pollution are from humans littering into the ocean with objects such as plastic bags, which can be seen through the turtles’ eye as food, like jelly fish. Gas and oil leaks harm the turtles by blocking the functions within their body and cause bacterial infections as well. Because of dehydration and anemic conditions turtles often are found washed up along the shore very weak.

Not only are they fighting to stay alive, their reproduction is being altered by global warming. Referring to Science Daily, “The sex of some species of turtles is determined by the temperature of the nest: warm nests produce females, cooler nests, males.” As global warming increases, the temperature changes cause alterations in the reproduction.

Turtles are in the middle of the food chain. Many of their predators are land animals, such as foxes, raccoons, and other small carnivores. Biologists have recorded that 12,907 nests have been found and these nests need to be taken care of in order to keep the endangered species count low.

If you would like to donate to help turtles in need, click the link below.

https://www.marinelife.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=298

Resource:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110202102117.htm