Why in the news?

• According to the IUCN, the global population of green sea turtles has risen by 28% since the 1970s.

Green Sea Turtle

• Distribution:
  • Found in tropical and subtropical waters across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
  • Commonly nests on sandy beaches and feeds in shallow coastal waters, lagoons, and seagrass meadows.
• Features:
  • The Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle species in the world.
  • The name “green” refers not to its carapace (which is olive to black) but to the green-colored fat beneath its shell.
  • It plays a vital ecological role as a keystone species in tropical marine ecosystems, maintaining healthy seagrass beds and coral reefs.
  • Spends nearly its entire life underwater, surfacing only to breathe or nest on beaches.
  • Lifespan: Estimated 60–70 years.
  • Natal Homing: Females return to the same beach where they hatched to lay eggs.
  • Nesting occurs mainly at night, with 50–200 eggs per clutch.
• Ecological Importance:
  • Acts as a keystone species by maintaining seagrass bed productivity, ensuring the stability of marine ecosystems.
  • Supports nutrient cycling between marine and coastal ecosystems.
• Threats Faced:
  • Coastal development, pollution, fishing net entanglement, climate change, and illegal egg collection.
  • Rising sea surface temperatures affect nesting success and sex ratios.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern
  • CITES: Appendix I – International trade prohibited.
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I