Dr Arun Prakash
Imagine this scene: It’s a sunny morning at the beach. Waves gently touch the shore. Tiny heads peek from beneath the sand. Slowly, carefully, hundreds of little turtles scramble their way to the ocean, their tiny flippers racing as fast as they can manage. Welcome to the exciting start of a turtle’s life!
Today is May 23rd—World Turtle Day—a special day dedicated to these incredible creatures. Now, why turtles, you ask? Well, let’s dive right into their mesmerizing world!
Did you know turtles have been roaming our planet for more than 200 million years? That’s even before dinosaurs ruled the Earth! They truly are living fossils—ancient and wise, like your great-great-grandparents, multiplied by a thousand!
But what’s so special about turtles?
First, let’s talk shells. A turtle’s shell isn’t like a snail’s shell; turtles can’t leave their shells behind because it’s actually part of their skeleton! Imagine your ribs on the outside of your body—strange, right? Their shells even have feelings. Yes, they can feel it when you gently tap their shell!
Now, here’s a fascinating mystery—how do turtles find their way home? Sea turtles travel thousands of kilometers, yet they return to the exact spot where they were born, guided by Earth’s magnetic fields. Scientists call this incredible ability magnetoreception. It’s like they have their own built-in GPS system. I bet many of us wish we had that for finding lost homework!
Did you know turtles are global citizens? With over 350 species worldwide, turtles live in almost every part of the world, from oceans to deserts, except in Antarctica.
Here’s another fun fact: Did you know some turtles can breathe through their skin? That’s right! Certain freshwater turtles, like the Australian Mary River turtle, can absorb oxygen directly through their skin, helping them stay underwater for a long time. They even have a funny nickname—the “bum-breathing turtle” because of this unique skill!
Turtles are also amazing breath-holding champions. Some sea turtles can stay underwater for up to five hours without coming up for air!
But life isn’t always easy for turtles. They’re in trouble because of pollution, plastic waste, and habitat loss. Sadly, more than half of all turtle species are now endangered. Just imagine, turtles survived dinosaurs, but now they’re struggling to survive humans. That’s like winning against dragons only to lose against mosquitoes!
Climate change is another challenge for turtles. Warmer sands at nesting beaches can change the gender balance of hatchlings, often resulting in more females. This imbalance threatens their future survival.
“Hot Chicks and Cool Dudes” Did you know? The temperature of the sand where turtle eggs are buried determines whether the hatchlings will be male or female! Warmer temperatures usually produce female turtles, while cooler ones produce males. It’s nature’s own thermostat for balance—until climate change turns up the heat too much! This imbalance threatens their future survival. But wait! If a whole beach is warm, won’t all hatchlings be female? Great question! While the beach might feel the same to us, there are little differences that matter a lot to turtles. Nests deeper in the sand tend to be cooler, and those in shade or laid earlier in the season can produce more males. Even a bit of rainfall can change the temperature just enough. So yes—there’s still hope for a mix, but scientists are keeping a close eye on it!
Why should we care? Because turtles help keep oceans and rivers clean and healthy. They are seagrass gardeners, eating harmful algae and jellyfish, thus keeping marine ecosystems balanced. Green turtles, for example, maintain seagrass beds that provide homes for fish and other sea creatures, and even help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere!
Turtles also play the role of coral reef custodians. Hawksbill turtles keep coral reefs healthy by feeding on sponges, preventing the sponges from overtaking corals.
As nutrient cyclers, turtle eggs and hatchlings provide essential nutrients to beaches, helping plants grow and preventing erosion.
In India, we have a special role too! Odisha’s beaches are famous for Olive Ridley turtles, where thousands come each year to nest. Our government even runs “Operation Olivia” to protect them. Uttar Pradesh also has initiatives to protect freshwater turtles that keep our rivers clean and healthy.
An important thing to remember: turtles might look adorable, but keeping them as pets is illegal in India. It’s because turtles belong in the wild, helping ecosystems stay balanced.
And did you know turtles are great long-distance travelers? An Olive Ridley turtle once traveled nearly 1,000 kilometers around the Bay of Bengal in just 51 days!
On this World Turtle Day, let’s promise to keep our beaches and waters clean, say no to plastic, and spread awareness about protecting these gentle, wise creatures. After all, if turtles can travel thousands of miles without GPS, we can surely travel a few steps to the recycling bin!
So let’s cheer for turtles today: slow, steady, and stunningly special!
Happy World Turtle Day, everyone!