The Kemp Ridley Sea Turtle

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When a species is threatened by extinction it falls under the category of being an “endangered species.” Each species has different threats which affect their survival rate. Many species may be affected by loss of habitat or loss of genetic variation (Society). However, other reasons exist and are prominent as well such as egg collection and unintentional capture when operating fishing equipment. There is class of sea turtle that is the rarest species of sea turtle, the smallest species of sea turtle, and the most critically endangered sea turtle in the world (Fisheries).
The Kemp Ridley Sea Turtle has an average lifespan of 50 years, weighs 100 pounds and is 2 ft. in size (National Geographic). It usually resides in the coastal waters and bays of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. A prevalent threat to survival it happenstances is over-harvesting of …show more content…

People harvested the eggs in truckload sizes throughout 1940’s and 1960’s and sold them in little towns in Texas and Mexico (Texas Parks & Wildlife). The Kemp Ridley’s Sea turtle was put on the “Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1970” on December 2, 1970 (Fisheries). This has become a massive setback, it initiated their nesting activity to be called “arribadas” (National Geographic). When a “arribada” occurs, all female sea turtles take over the seashore in pursuit of the perfect space to place her offspring. A female Kemp Ridley Sea Turtle is sexually mature once it is 10 - 12 years old which means reproduction rates are low as many females don’t survive to this maturity level. With that being said, the nesting grounds are now being safeguarded. The

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