VIDEO FEATURE: Snorkeling with Green Turtles in Thailand

Green Turtles are found in seas around the world, but only in tropical and sub-tropical waters because as reptiles they need an environment that’s not extreme in temperature. As adults they are herbivorous, eating sea grass and algae. But juveniles also eat jellyfish, sponges and even crabs. Their common name actually comes from the colour of their skin, not their shells. Their shell colour is dictated by their environment and diet.

The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), commonly known as the green turtle, black (sea) turtle, or Pacific green turtle, is a big sea turtle species belonging to the Cheloniidae family. Chelonia is a genus with only one species. It has a global distribution that includes tropical and subtropical oceans, with two separate populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Indian Ocean. The common name alludes to the green fat located beneath its carapace, not to the olive to black colour of its carapace.

Green sea turtles migrate great distances between feeding areas and breeding beaches, just like other sea turtles. Green sea turtles nest on the shores of several islands across the world, earning them the name Turtle Island. Females crawl out on beaches at night, dig nests, and lay eggs. Hatchlings emerge later and dash into the water. In the wild, those who reach maturity can live up to 80 years.

The IUCN and CITES have classified C. mydas as endangered, and it is protected from exploitation in most countries. Collecting, harming, or killing them is prohibited. Many countries also have laws and ordinances in place to safeguard nesting places. Human activity, however, continues to pose a threat to turtles. Turtles and their eggs are still harvested for food in several areas. Turtles are harmed indirectly by pollution on both a population and individual level. Many turtles are killed when they are ensnared in fishing nets. Furthermore, real estate development frequently results in habitat loss by removing nesting beaches.