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Green turtle rescued nearby extinction what in Scientist calling one of WorldGreat conservation success stories.
hunted once continuously For its meat, eggs and decorative shells, the species A decline was seen in its numbers In the 20th century and since the 1980s it has been listed as endangered.
but after decades of conservation effortsFrom protecting nesting beaches to reducing incidental catches in fishing nets, global populations have begun to rebound.
Research published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) states that the global population of green turtles has increased by about 28 percent since the 1970s.
Green turtles are one of the largest species of sea turtles, named for the green color of their body fat, which results from the animal’s plant-based diet.
Work to save the species includes patrolling beaches, protecting mothers and their eggs, releasing hatchlings into the ocean, educating coastal communities, and introducing fishing gear that prevents turtles from being accidentally entangled.
The latest update of the IUCN Red List, released at the organisation’s World Congress in Abu Dhabi, shows that the green turtle has been downgraded from “endangered” to “least concern”.
The list now includes 172,620 species, of which 48,646 species are threatened with extinction.
“The ongoing global recovery of green turtles is a powerful example of what coordinated global conservation over decades can achieve in stabilizing and even restoring populations of long-lived marine species,” said Roderick Mast, co-chair of the Sea Turtle Specialist Group of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission.
“Such approaches must focus not only on turtles, but on keeping their habitats healthy and their ecological functions intact. Sea turtles cannot survive without healthy oceans and coasts, and humans cannot either. Continued conservation efforts are critical to ensure that this recovery is sustained.”
Despite the latest news, scientists warn that green turtle numbers remain well below their historical levels, and the creatures face continuing threats from habitat destruction, fishing and climate change.
In some areas in Australia, including Rhine Island, hatching success rates are falling, a sign that conservation efforts must continue.