Named for their pointed beak, hawksbill turtles are classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Critically Endangered. These ancient animals have long been targeted by poachers for an amber-hued, intricate shell, coveted for luxury items from sunglasses to cigarette boxes. To make matters worse, hawksbills are hooked by fishing boats and entangled in nets. Frequently they eat and suffocate on plastic floating throughout the ocean.
The Nature Conservancy and local communities in the Solomon Islands are working together to discover the secrets to their migration and saving them from extinction. Measures such as enlisting rangers, tagging turtles and establishing Arnavon Community Marine Park – the first National Park in the Solomon Islands – have achieved good results. The number of turtles that nest there has doubled over the past 20 years.
(See above video - SEA TURTLES IN ACTION)
You can help us continue this important work to save the hawksbills.
Together, we can secure a brighter future for this remarkable species.
If you like to learn more or join our mailing list, please email us at pacdevelopment@tnc.org