Sea turtles in the Cayman Islands are recovering from the brink of local extinction, new research shows.
Sea turtles in the Cayman Islands are recovering from the brink of local extinction, new research shows.
Monitoring from 1998-2019 shows loggerhead and green turtle nest numbers increased dramatically, though hawksbill turtle nest numbers remain low.
In the first counts in 1998-99, just 39 sea turtle nests were found in total on the three islands. By 2019, the figure was 675.
Captive breeding of green turtles and inactivity of a traditional turtle fishery due to tightening of restrictions in 2008 contributed to this – but populations remain far below historical levels and still face threats including illegal hunting.
The study was carried out by the Cayman Islands Department of Environment and the University of Exeter.
"Our findings demonstrate a remarkable recovery for sea turtle populations that were once thought to be locally extinct," said Dr Janice Blumenthal, of the Cayman Islands Department of Environment.
Read more at: University of Exeter
A green turtle hatchling (Photo Credit: Cayman Islands Department of Environment)
