Saving Our Turtles

Dr. Vinod Chandrashekhar Dixit

To raise awareness about turtles and tortoises, their conservation needs, and the serious threats they face, we observe World Turtle Day every year on May 23rd. The day celebrates the beauty, diversity, and vital ecological roles these reptiles play in ecosystems worldwide. More importantly, it serves as a global call to action — urging individuals, organizations, and governments to step up and support conservation efforts.

World Turtle Day was founded in 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue, a California-based non-profit created by Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson. The organization works to rescue, rehabilitate, and protect turtles and tortoises from abuse, illegal trade, and habitat loss. The day was launched to highlight how human activity, pollution, and environmental hazards have caused sharp declines in their populations. Each year on May 23rd, schools, wildlife rescue centers, zoos, and nature enthusiasts come together to educate communities, share research, and pledge to protect these remarkable animals.

Turtles and tortoises belong to the order Testudines, one of the oldest reptile groups on Earth. They have roamed the planet for over 200 million years — long before snakes, crocodiles, or alligators appeared. They survived the age of dinosaurs and multiple mass extinctions. This ancient lineage makes their conservation not just important, but urgent. If we lose them, we lose a living connection to Earth’s deep past.

World Turtle Day also emphasizes the role of scientific research and sustainable habitat management. Many turtle species depend on wetlands — ecosystems that are among the most biodiverse yet most threatened on the planet. Wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests due to drainage, pollution, and development. Protecting species like the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis means protecting the marshes, rivers, and coastal zones that support thousands of other plants and animals too.

Understanding the difference between turtles and tortoises is key to protecting them. While the terms are often used interchangeably, they are distinct animals with different needs. Turtles generally live in water or split time between land and water. They have flatter, streamlined shells and webbed feet or flippers for swimming. Most species live 40–80 years, though sea turtles can live longer. Tortoises are land-dwellers with large, domed shells and sturdy, elephant-like legs. They are herbivores and some species are among the longest-living animals on Earth — with verified lifespans of 150–190 years. Claims of 300 years are myths, but their longevity is still extraordinary.

The size range is equally remarkable. The speckled padloper tortoise measures just 3–4 inches, while the leatherback sea turtle can exceed 7 feet in length and weigh over 2,000 pounds. Turtles inhabit oceans, rivers, and lakes across every continent except Antarctica. Tortoises prefer grasslands, deserts, scrub forests, and tropical islands.

Today, over half of all turtle and tortoise species are threatened with extinction. Habitat destruction, climate change, plastic pollution, illegal pet trade, and fishing bycatch are driving their decline. Because they grow slowly and reproduce late, their populations cannot recover quickly from losses.

World Turtle Day is more than a date on the calendar. It’s a reminder that these quiet, ancient creatures have watched continents drift and climates shift, but they may not survive us without help. Each of us can act: cut down on single-use plastics, never purchase wild-caught turtles or tortoises, support wetland and beach conservation, volunteer with rescue groups, and teach children to respect wildlife. When we protect turtles and tortoises, we safeguard oceans, rivers, forests, and grasslands — and all the species that share those habitats. Their slow, steady pace carries a powerful message: conservation cannot wait. The choices we make today will decide whether these living fossils remain for our grandchildren to witness and wonder at. Let World Turtle Day be the start of that commitment.

(The writer is a Free-Lance Journalist & Cartoonist; He is the holder of Limca Book of Record (8 Times)