Why kemp ridley sea turtle is endangered

Size: 2 feet. Weight: pounds. Size relative to a 6-ft man:. Critically endangered. Least Concern Extinct. Current Population Trend: Unknown. This photo was submitted to Your Shot, our photo community on Instagram. Follow us on Instagram at natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo. Share Tweet Email. Go Further. Animals Climate change is shrinking many Amazonian birds. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city.

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In 4 seconds , you will be redirected to nwfactionfund. The National Wildlife Federation. Classification: Reptile. Description Kemp's ridley sea turtles are considered the smallest marine turtles in the world and are also the most endangered. Range Kemp's ridleys are usually found in nearshore and inshore waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico, especially in Louisiana waters, which are their primary feeding grounds.

Behavior Because of its long migration patterns, the Kemp's ridley sea turtle spends much of its life in isolation. Life History Female Kemp's ridleys return to nest on the same beach where they were hatched from May to July —usually in the daylight hours—to lay two to three clutches of approximately eggs, which incubate for 50 to 60 days. Conservation Kemp's ridleys have been designated as endangered since under the Endangered Species Act , and are internationally listed as critically endangered.

Donate Today. Sign a Petition. Donate Monthly. Nearby Events. All trick, no treat? The high price of harvesting cocoa for chocolate Read More. They also eat fish, jellies, shrimp, and a variety of molluscs. Learn more about their diet. A small number have also nested further north along the Texas coast. The demise of the population is attributed to human interactions, including the hunting for their meat and eggs. Entanglement in fishing gear also poses an enormous threat for this species.

Bottom trawling, longline, and gillnet fisheries are all responsible for a large number of deaths every year. Since then, the population appears to be recovering thanks to the protection of nesting beaches and the use of Turtle Excluder Devices on commercial trawlers.

They are named after Richard Kemp, a fisherman from Key West, Florida, who helped discover the species. Thank you! You will receive the next issue of our newsletter.

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