World Turtle Day

Held every year on May 23, World Turtle Day is celebrated to raise awareness about protection of turtles and tortoises. They have been the victims of overexploitation for nearly 200 years now. They have been hunted down for their shells, meat as well as eggs. This has led to most of the turtle species facing the threat of extinction and being classified as endangered. 

World Turtle Day was established in 2000 and is sponsored by a non profit organization called American Tortoise Rescue. This day reminds people of the dangers faced by turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats. This day also calls for people to unite and protect turtles from the damaging man made actions. It has been estimated that every year about 1000 sea turtles die by ingesting plastic. About 2.50,000 turtles die from being caught in fishing nets annually. 

While 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 respective 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.