Is Central America on your travel itinerary? Keep an eye out for souvenirs made from endangered Hawksbill turtle shells. Although the sale of products made with Hawksbill turtles is illegal, there are still an estimated 70% of stores in Nicaragua selling turtleshell souvenirs, according to the organisation Too Rare to Wear.
How to Identify and Avoid Real Turtle Shell Souvenirs
Overall, most tourists don’t realise that turtleshell souvenirs come from endangered Hawksbill turtles. The Hawksbill population declined more than 80% in the last century, with only 15,000 females left according to a Too Rare to Wear report.
Hawksbill Turtle Fast Facts:
- Hawksbill turtles feed on sponges in coral reefs. This helps maintain a healthy balance of coral.
- Thes IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) lists them as “endangered.”
- There is an estimated 15,000 adult females alive globally.
- Their biggest threat are hunters who use their beautiful shells for jewelry and other souvenirs.
So Celebrate #WorldOceansDay today and take the pledge with @TooRareToWear to protect these cute sea creatures.
