On 23 May many countries celebrate World Turtle Day , an animal that symbolizes wisdom, wealth and longevity.

This unusual holiday was born in 2000 on the initiative of the American Tortoise Rescue. This organization was founded by enthusiasts in 1990 in Malibu (California, USA) to preserve the population of turtles living in the vicinity of the city.

The purpose of the holiday was to attract public attention to the problem of the death of a large number of turtles due to their proximity to humans.

The turtle is a symbol of wisdom, wealth and longevity (Photo: KKulikov, licensed by Shutterstock.com)

According to scientists, turtles appeared on Earth long before humans. For example, sea turtles have inhabited the world’s oceans for over 100 million years. However, today the survival of these living witnesses of the dinosaur era is under threat.

Moreover, they die not only because of their accidental catch by people during the harvesting of other inhabitants of the seas and oceans. Another problem is hidden in the active development of the beach strip: sea turtles lay eggs on the beaches, and the babies must freely get into the ocean. Human intervention greatly complicates this process.

Habitat destruction, disease and climate change pose a major threat. For example, climate change affects the gender ratio in populations. Some species of turtles have already disappeared from the wild. And the process of turtle extinction is ongoing.

Pollution of the environment with plastic and other human waste also has a major impact. As experts explain, many sea turtles mistakenly take plastic for jellyfish and other food. Fragments of the material block digestion, injure internal organs, and lead to exhaustion and death of animals.

Three of the seven species – the green, hawksbill and Atlantic ridley turtles – are listed as endangered or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, a non-profit group that monitors the global conservation of turtles. Three more – the leatherback, olive ridley and loggerhead turtles – are listed as “vulnerable.”

It is important to remember that everything in nature is interconnected. Leatherbacks and hawksbill turtles help control jellyfish and sponge populations. Green sea turtles eat sea grass, which must be low for many species of fish to reproduce. That is why it is so important to protect each species and save turtles from extinction.

On this day, events are held in all turtle habitats, during which volunteers save the animals by making crossings under busy highways in migration areas or other dangerous places. Participants in the events also seek the status of legally protected areas for the seashores where sea turtles lay their eggs.

In recent years, Turtle Day has been celebrated not only in those corners of the globe where these animals live, but also in many other countries around the world. On this day, people try to exclude turtle dishes from their diet, and household items made from their shells (combs, boxes, etc.) from their daily life.

The celebration itself includes masquerades in turtle costumes with funny scenes from the life of animals, turtle dances and sending funny postcards with their images. It is enough to turn on your imagination, and you too can support this wonderful tradition.

https://www.calend.ru/holidays/0/0/3043/