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Jordan Byes

Ms. Wing

Pre-AP/ Period 1

26 February 2018
Hawksbill Turtle

Encouraged by the swiftness of the crisp blue water, the Hawksbill Turtle flows past the

coral, that lies slightly below the surface, with precision. Steadily the slight glare of light brushes

upon the narrow eyes, as the hawk shaped beak breaks through the exterior of the sea. The

moonlight reflected off the rugged, oval shaped shell onto the rippling water behind the

persistent female turtle. A moment of conflict was created when the solid shell began to nudge

over the scattered layer of pebbles and rocks. The soon to be mother continued to endure over the

scutted surface with great determination, and continued into the shadow of the night.

Completely vulnerable to the dangers of land, the female reaches her desired destination

and began to submerge her flat flippers into the ground in order to create a minor pit.

Occasionally, her beak sways from side to side to seek any harm that may come of the foreign

location at which she voyaged onto. Nearly exhausted, she then immersed into the pit and

produced nearly 200 eggs, still on lookout for nearby predators. Then, with great urgency sweeps

sand over the offspring and scurries towards the still glimmer of light lying on the water.

Large masses of water make up precisely 71% of the Earth’s surface, and is habitat to

nearly 1 million species, that have been discovered thus far. Among these species the Hawksbill

Turtle, along with nearly 2,300 additional wildlife creatures, have been listed as endangered.

These turtles have existed for nearly 100 million years and had been pronounced as an

endangered species since the 1970’s. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the

Hawksbill turtle and the Kemp’s Ridleys Turtle are two out of seven sea turtle species that have

been listed as critically endangered (IUCN).

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Like majority of other endangered species, the top predator of the Hawksbill Turtle are

human beings. Humans would hunt animals for numerous reasons such as using their outer

coating for clothing, fine china, and other resources. In this case, Hawksbill Turtles are hunted

primarily for their shell and the oil extracted from their muscles (US and Wildlife Service).

Although hunting these alluring creatures of the sea support human pleasures and wants, more

negatives are being created than positives.

(WWF)

Unlike other sea creatures, Hawksbill Turtles are non confrontational and live majority of

their lives independent. Social interaction is uncommon, therefore, there is not a social hierarchy

between the male and female turtles. Each sex does not typically interact unless the female

decides whether or not she is interested in pursuing a mate. After mating is completed, however,

the two turtles would disperse and continue on their own path to find more turtles to mate with. It

is common behavior for female turtles to mate with numerous males during the gestation period

of about 10 weeks, to ensure that the average amount of 200 eggs are laid for each nest that is

created (Sea-Turtle World). This process also creates more genetically diverse offspring.

Since female Hawksbill turtles lay their eggs on a beach, the turtles live in near proximity

of warm, beachfront locations that typically have rocky landscapes. Hawksbill Turtles are known
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as preferably particular of the temperature of which they live and reproduce, therefore, it is stated

that “females return to lay their eggs on the same beach where they were born” due to both

natural instinct and the appropriate weather necessary for the eggs to hatch. Returning back to

their birth place during mating season is also a substantial aspect in their migration patterns.

Based on migration study, the Hawksbill Turtle prefered to live in a habitat, such as the coral

reefs near Puerto Rico or the Caribbean Islands, that had the temperatures of approximately

33.6°C (92.48°F) (Oceanbites).

(Vila Prea)

Not only do the Hawksbill Turtles prefer this weather but molluscs, jelly fish, sea urchins,

and crustacean do as well, which is their source of food. Hawksbill Turtles are omnivores and

feasts on the small creatures, plants, algae and sponges of the coral reefs (IUCN).

Not only do the coral reefs provide habitat and food but also camouflage for the

Hawksbill Turtle. Their shells are oval shaped and has a coloration of brown with mottled colors

of either yellow, orange, or reddish-brown (US Fish and Wildlife Service). The Hawksbill Turtle

is on the smaller spectrum of sea turtles and has a small head with a distinctive hawk-like beak,

thus the name.

As previously stated, humans use the outer layer of animals for manufactured products.

Turtles are mainly hunted for their shells because of the unique patterns and texture it has and
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also the oil from their muscles, used for medicine. However, there is no proof or evidence that

using the oils extracted from the muscles are actually effective in medicines used for curing

integumentary, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases (SeaTurtle-World). Hence, in order to

save the lives of innocent turtles, it is necessary to educate people on the role Hawksbill Turtles

play in the environment.

Hawksbill Turtles, like any other creature, are important to the food chain. If Hawksbill

Turtles go extinct, there would be an imbalance of consumers and producers. If so, the

population of consumers would increase and the population of the producers would gradually

decrease. Eventually there would not be enough producers to provide food, causing a dramatic

decrease of consumers as well. Also, the Hawksbill Turtles spread nutrients throughout beaches

due to then their voyage on land and producing eggs (US Fish and Wildlife Service).

Not only is poaching a leading cause to the extinction of Hawksbill Turtles but so is

pollution and global warming. Each year hundreds of sea turtles are killed by garbage waste that

are exposed to the ocean. Sea turtles have been tangled or had consumed plastic waste that

eventually killed them (US Fish and Wildlife Service). Global warming, as well, is decreasing

the population of Hawksbill Turtles. Climate change has caused an increase of natural disasters

which alter nesting beaches that the turtles depend on returning to. Also, if the Hawksbill Turtle

does successfully lay the eggs, there is a chance that majority of the eggs would not hatch due to

the sand being too searing from the increase of temperature.

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(The National Park)

Though there are many challenges, many organizations have been established to try to

help save the decreasing population of the Hawksbill Turtle. Organizations such as the WWF,

The Sea Turtle Conservancy, National Aquarium Animal Rescue, have several fundraisers and

petitions to stop poaching and improve global warming research. Organizations, such as these,

have encouraged change such as stated by the US Fish and Wildlife Service stating, “the legal

hawksbill shell trade ended when Japan agreed to stop importing shell in 1993” (US Fish and

Wildlife Service). Ending this trade was extremely significant because the Japan trade of

Hawksbill shells had a huge affect on the amount of turtles that were killed.

Although illegal shell trade, poaching, and global issues are still occuring, change and

progress has been made in protecting these majestic creatures from extinction. With the support

from numerous organizations fighting to make a change, promoting clean beaches, and educating

the importance the Hawksbill Turtle has on both the environment in the sea and on the land, there

is enough security to encourage the Hawksbill Turtle to remain for generations to come.

“Global Warming & Sea Turtles.” SEE Turtles, www.seeturtles.org/global-warming/.

“Hawksbill Turtles Are Picky about Their Water Temperature.” Oceanbites, 25 June 2014,

oceanbites.org/where-do-hawksbill-turtles-go/.
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“Hawksbill Turtle.”WWF, World Wildlife Fund,

www.worldwildlife.org/species/hawksbill-turtle.

Mortimer, J.A & Donnelly, M. (IUCN SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group). 2008. Eretmochelys

imbricata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T8005A12881238.

http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T8005A12881238.en

Public Affairs Office NFESO. “Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys Imbricata).”

Official Web Page of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service,

www.fws.gov/northflorida/seaturtles/turtle%20factsheets/hawksbill-sea-turtle.htm.

Sea Turtle Social Structure.” Sea Turtle Facts and Information,

www.seaturtle-world.com/sea-turtle-social-structure/.

“The National Park.” Vila Preá | Official Site | Hotel & Restaurant | Eco Lodge on Brazil's Best

Kitesurf Beach | Jericoacoara, vilaprea.com/jericoacoara-brazil/brazil-national-park/.

https://vilaprea.com/jericoacoara-brazil/brazil-national-park/