Inspired by a very sad article,
In one of my nature magazines;
And, by a memorable encounter,
With an earthly neighbor, in the sea.
They are the largest turtles on our planet
They have been here, since the dinosaurs
But, unless we change our modern ways
They will soon sadly be with us, no more
They were once plentiful, in every ocean
Found from the Caribbean to Nova Scotia
I will never forget the day, I swam with one
In warm tropical waters off the coast of Mexico
This giant Leatherback welcomed me, into his world
I snorkeled right along beside him, gazing into his eyes
Each time I’ve had the chance to meet another species
I’ve realized that our planet belongs to far more than ‘I’
Today, they are being killed off, in our fishing nets
We have now over-fished, most of their food supply
Thousands of them die, consuming our plastic trash
And their dwindling numbers, should make us all cry
And today, in our insatiable lust for modern development
We are even robbing them, of their coastline nesting space
Like many other creatures, which we are now annihilating
Their extinction, will leave our planet, a much sadder place
It’s estimated that the fishing industry now contributes to the deaths of tens of thousands of sea turtles every year, which become trapped in longlines, gill nets, and trawls. And those that manage to avoid our fishing nets are impacted by the continuing disruption to their food supply and habitat.
Every year now, more and more sea turtle habitat is being destroyed because of our ever shrinking natural coastlines. Wherever there is increased boat traffic, whenever a new hotel or a new high-rise is constructed along the shore, and wherever there is sea floor dredging and beach erosion, sea turtle food supplies and nesting areas take another major hit.
And our now endless marine pollution is harming sea turtles in so many horrid ways. Discarded fishing gear, petroleum by-products, and our immense amounts of plastic debris kill sea turtles through ingestion and entanglement. And this never ending human garbage weakens the turtles’ immune systems, and very sadly disrupts nesting behavior and hatchling orientation, making continued life for them on this planet, more and more difficult.
They are the largest turtles on our planet,
They have been here, since the dinosaurs;
But, unless we change our modern ways,
They will soon sadly be with us, no more.
©2009, Mr. Ed
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(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Love Tinky
Be always safe,
Karen
fee
The story bites at heart strings...
Man needs to become extinct...e
Nice picture of gentle giant. Hopefully things will change for the better...
Love, Ankin
BTW I couldn't hear any music.
Georg
Love the photo,
Cheers,
Dan
Anna
This is beautiful. It is so sad when Man destroys a species. I have never seen a sea turtle except in pictures. Here we are fighting for the lives of desert tortoises. it doesn't matter, why does Man destroy any species. Thank you for writing this.
Mary
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :( *tears*