A South Carolina man pleaded guilty to importing and selling sperm whale teeth and bones, a violation of federal wildlife laws, the Justice Department announced. Lauren H. DeLoach, 69, of Saint Helena Island, admitted to importing sperm whale parts to South Carolina, including at least 30 shipments from Australia, Latvia, Norway, and Ukraine, between 2021 […]
Tag: sea turtle
In Panama, major port construction begins at key mangrove site
Conservation groups in Panama are trying to halt the construction of a new port in the Pacific province of Chiriquí that they say could destroy breeding grounds and nurseries for marine species. The Puerto Barú project, located outside the town of David, would create a new port on Panama’s northwest coast, increasing trade and tourism […]
Illegal cockfighting threatens endangered sea turtles across Central America
Cockfighting has been illegal in Costa Rica for more than a century, but this violent tradition persists underground across the country. To make the birds deadlier, their owners often tie razor-sharp blades to their legs, known as gaffs or cockspurs. Aside from the roosters, which get seriously injured or killed during fights, another species has […]
With Sea Turtles in Peril, a Call for New Strategies to Save Them
Sea turtles were already navigating the oceans when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. But these ancient creatures face an uncertain future. All seven sea turtle species are currently endangered or threatened, notes Christine Figgener, a German-born conservation biologist who has been working in Costa Rica for the past 16 years. The number of nesting females on […]
Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release: A Sea Turtle Success Story to Kick off 2024
“Mojo,” a 500+ pound leatherback sea turtle, stranded on Miami’s South Beach just before the new year. He’s estimated to be 30 to 35 years old. According to NOAA, leatherback sea turtles are the largest turtles in the world. They’re the only species lacking scales and a hard shell and have existed in their current […]
10 Common Practices in Maintaining Lagoon Biodiversity
Here’s a fact: 13% of the world’s coastlines are lagoons. Because of that, they present one of the highest biological productivities in marine life. Teeming with species, they provide homes for fish gliding through rippling seagrass, birds skimming the glittering surface, dolphins spinning joyously, ancient sea turtles returning to their nest, and many tiny creatures […]
How Plastic Affects Animals and Harms Them
Since the advent of plastic in the early 20th century, its production has surged tremendously, leading to a staggering accumulation of waste. By 2019, the world had produced around 460 million metric tons of plastic, contributing to approximately 7 billion metric tons of waste over time; tragically, a large portion of this waste ends up […]
The weird creatures coming to beaches as Wales becomes ‘more like the Med’
Sightings of unusual and exotic marine species will become more common on Welsh coasts as sea temperatures rise, a marine biologist has said. Over the coming years, warm-water sharks, turtles and jellyfish will visit in greater numbers and for longer periods if current trends continue. Some creatures may pose a greater risk to beachgoers, prompting […]