Sea turtles inhabit all the oceans of the world except the Arctic, and have a broad range of habitats and diets. Each species has uniquely evolved to different environments and available food. Some are nomadic marathon swimmers and others call coral reefs their home. There are seven species of sea turtles found globally. So, who eats what and what does a sea turtle diet consist of?
Sometimes nature doesn’t always get everything right! The ORP team at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu recently discovered a green sea turtle embryo with a very unusual abnormality during a routine excavation of a hatched turtle nest: a two-headed individual. The embryo had sadly died within its egg and never hatched, but that didn’t stop it from giving us all a huge surprise. The experience also served as an interesting reminder of the intrigues of the natural world.
This time the Turtle Book Club focuses on books about turtle conservation. With six out of seven species of sea turtles threatened with extinction, conservation is a key aspect of sea turtle science. These books include stories from the roots of sea turtle conservation in the Atlantic, the Pacific, and also in the Indian Ocean. As turtles are only one part of the global ecosystem, we also encourage a closer look into the philosophical background around all of conservation.
In this edition of the ORP Turtle Book Club we feature books for readers with a specific interest in the science surrounding turtles and their biology. Looking for a good book on sea turtle biology for a presentation at school? Working on a paper for comparative anatomy at uni? Wolfing down all the literature you can find surrounding your favourite animals? We have some great turtle science book recommendations for you!
In this week’s Turtle Book Club we move on from children’s books to turtle stories aimed at an older audience. In these various works of prose, the authors invite readers on a trip around the world through developments in sea turtle science, a true crime story (involving turtles), turtle-centric holidays, and a young boy’s life journey.
This edition of turtle book club is aimed at the youngest turtle fans and their parents. All the books recommended are short, large format and mainly picture books which are ideal for very young kids to read to, for early learners or avid young readers. They contain engaging stories from different sea turtles and show their life’s and different environments. We hope you will enjoy these reads together with your kids!
Turtles are a unique group of vertebrates. Their most striking feature is by far the shell. It is what makes them so easily recognizable as turtles, but how did turtles end up with their shell? This is still an area of great research interest and strongly debated in the scientific community. In this article, we will show you some of the highlights surrounding the research of turtle evolution.
Leah Mainye, a young Marine Biologist from Kenya, joined ORP’s team in December 2019 as an in-water turtle monitoring assistant. Find out how she started her career in Marine Biology, her experience working with ORP’s team in Diani Beach, and some of the ups and downs of choosing this career.
Asif Baloch, ORP Field Coordinator in Pakistan, has provided surface support for many scuba diving excursions to remove ghost gear but he had never actually scuba dived before. He recently got PADI certified along with his younger brother, Alam, and ORP Pakistan Project Coordinator, Usman.
Our new Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Centre at One & Only Reethi Rah in North Male Atoll is open. We can now transfer some of the turtle patients requiring long-term rehabilitation here and free up tank space for critically injured turtle patients at the Rescue Centre.
