Green Sea Turtles move from 'endangered' to 'least concern' on threatened species list

Green Sea Turtles have officially been reclassified from “Endangered” to “Least Concern” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

After decades of global conservation efforts, these turtles are making a comeback, although many regional populations still need protection.

Talitha Noble-Trull, Conservation Manager at the Turtle Conservation Centre, says, "It's a real excitement and success that just shows how global efforts have been working for the Green Turtle.

"It's important for us to continue conservation efforts.

It doesn't mean that just because the efforts are working that we're able to take a step off the gas," she adds.

Sea turtles are threatened by a combination of human activities like fishing bycatch and poaching, plastic pollution and chemical runoff, habitat loss due to coastal development, and climate change, which affects nesting beaches and sex ratios. Other threats include vessel strikes, a loss of food sources, and human interference on beaches.

"Sea turtlesare conservation dependent, which means that if we were to stop these conservation efforts now that their status is improved, they would go back to being endangered," warns Noble-Trull.

To listen to Noble-Trull chat with Clarence Ford on CapeTalk's Views and News show, click below: