World Turtle Day

World Turtle Day is held every year on May 23. This day is celebrated to protect turtles and tortoises. They have been hunted down for their shells, meat as well as eggs. This is why many species of turtles are endangered. 

World Turtle Day was first celebrated in 2000. This day reminds people of the dangers faced by turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats or homes. Every year about 1000 sea turtles die by eating plastic and nearly 2.50,000 turtles die from being caught in fishing nets. 

Turtles can live up to the age of 40. Tortoises have a much larger life span and can live up to 300 years. The main difference between the two is that tortoises can only live on land, whereas turtles can live in water too. Both are important for their ecosystems. They feed on dead fishes that wash up to the shore and keep the beaches clean. The holes dug up by them become homes for other creatures.