THREATS TO SEA TURTLES: ABACO, BAHAMAS… IN FACT, EVERYWHERE The
Bahamas has breeding populations of 5 of the world’s 7 sea
turtle species - Green, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Leatherback and
Kemp’s Ridley turtles (the other two are Olive Ridley –
occasionally found in the Bahamas – and Flatback turtles). All
are endangered. There’s no getting away from the fact that Man
and Man’s activities are now the primary threats. The IUCN
ratings below make for sad reading. GREEN TURTLE (Chelonia
mydas) HAWKSBILL TURTLE (Eretmochelys imbricata) Hunted almost
to extinction for their shells LOGGERHEAD TURTLE (Caretta
caretta) LEATHERBACK TURTLE (Dermochelys coriacea) The largest
sea turtle KEMP’S RIDLEY TURTLE (Lepidochelys kempii) The
smallest sea turtle A helpful source of information about sea
turtles and their protection is the BAHAMAS SEA TURTLE
CONSERVATION GROUP Their excellent summary of the multiple
threats to these creatures (below) puts the critical situation
very well. Anyone who has watched a TV program about sea