Save the Leatherback Sea Turtles
Donation protected
Bolinas-Stinson School Kindergarten class is raising money to save the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtles.
The Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle received the distinction of being named the CA State Marine Reptile in 2013. Unfortunately, these amazing creatures are critically endangered. They have been named a priority species by the WWF, recognizing the species as one of the most ecologically, economically, and culturally important species on our planet.
The Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle is vital to the global ecosystem. As a major jellyfish predator, the leatherback keeps the jellyfish population in check. Over abundance of jellyfish will reduce fish populations as jellyfish feed on fish eggs and larvae and will ultimately reduce population growth of fish species important to humans who rely on fish for food and industry.
In September 2015, the Bolinas-Stinson School Kindergarten class participated in the annual California Coastal Clean-Up. We learned the effects plastic has on our oceans and marine life. This experience led us to further explore, focusing our studies on the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle, as they can be observed in the ocean right outside our front door. We made a life size model of an adult leatherback, created jellyfish with flashing LED lights, and constructed a book detailing all our newfound knowledge.
One startling fact we discovered was the drastic decline of adult females in the last 20 years. It is estimated there are as few as 2,300 adult females today; down from 40,000 in 1996. One nesting colony in Malaysia went from 3,000 females in 1968, to just 2 in 1993. There are no signs of recovery for this nesting colony.
The main threats to the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle are habitat loss and degradation, wildlife trade, theft of eggs from animal and human predators, incidental capture (by-catch), pollution, and climate change. There is proof that with the help from the local people monitoring beaches and nesting sites, protecting eggs and hatchlings from poachers, and aiding in the release of hatchlings to the sea, that we will give the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtles a better chance of surviving to adulthood.
The kindergarteners knew they had to act. The class embarked on a campaign to spread the word about the plight of the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle who has been around since the time of the dinosaurs, for more than 100 million years, but who may go extinct in our lifetime. Our goal is to save one adult leatherback sea turtle to return to the beach where she once hatched, to lay more eggs to continue the life cycle and ensure the survival of this integral species to our planet. Only one out of 1000 hatchlings will survive to adulthood. In order to save 1000 hatchlings, we need to raise $1250 to support organizations that provide protection of nesting sites and ultimately, the release of hatchlings to the ocean.
Please help us reach our goal!
The Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle received the distinction of being named the CA State Marine Reptile in 2013. Unfortunately, these amazing creatures are critically endangered. They have been named a priority species by the WWF, recognizing the species as one of the most ecologically, economically, and culturally important species on our planet.
The Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle is vital to the global ecosystem. As a major jellyfish predator, the leatherback keeps the jellyfish population in check. Over abundance of jellyfish will reduce fish populations as jellyfish feed on fish eggs and larvae and will ultimately reduce population growth of fish species important to humans who rely on fish for food and industry.
In September 2015, the Bolinas-Stinson School Kindergarten class participated in the annual California Coastal Clean-Up. We learned the effects plastic has on our oceans and marine life. This experience led us to further explore, focusing our studies on the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle, as they can be observed in the ocean right outside our front door. We made a life size model of an adult leatherback, created jellyfish with flashing LED lights, and constructed a book detailing all our newfound knowledge.
One startling fact we discovered was the drastic decline of adult females in the last 20 years. It is estimated there are as few as 2,300 adult females today; down from 40,000 in 1996. One nesting colony in Malaysia went from 3,000 females in 1968, to just 2 in 1993. There are no signs of recovery for this nesting colony.
The main threats to the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle are habitat loss and degradation, wildlife trade, theft of eggs from animal and human predators, incidental capture (by-catch), pollution, and climate change. There is proof that with the help from the local people monitoring beaches and nesting sites, protecting eggs and hatchlings from poachers, and aiding in the release of hatchlings to the sea, that we will give the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtles a better chance of surviving to adulthood.
The kindergarteners knew they had to act. The class embarked on a campaign to spread the word about the plight of the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle who has been around since the time of the dinosaurs, for more than 100 million years, but who may go extinct in our lifetime. Our goal is to save one adult leatherback sea turtle to return to the beach where she once hatched, to lay more eggs to continue the life cycle and ensure the survival of this integral species to our planet. Only one out of 1000 hatchlings will survive to adulthood. In order to save 1000 hatchlings, we need to raise $1250 to support organizations that provide protection of nesting sites and ultimately, the release of hatchlings to the ocean.
Please help us reach our goal!
Organizer and beneficiary
Cathy Nichelini-Jones
Organizer
Bolinas, CA
Turtle Island Restoration Network Reserva Silvestre Quelantaro
Beneficiary
