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What impact would the extinction of the Hawksbill sea turtle have on the environment? Why should we protect it?

The Hawksbill sea turtle belongs to the family of sea turtles known as Cheloniidae. This turtle is found in tropical reefs that lie along the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Adult Hawksbill turtles can weigh 45 - 68 kilograms and their average shell length is 76 cm. These turtles have a lifespan between 30 to 50 years.


The Hawksbill turtle is a critically endangered species. The main reasons behind the decline in their number is over-exploitation, loss of habitat, oils spills and other forms of marine pollution.


These turtles have a beautiful translucent shell that can be used to make jewellery and ornaments. The high demand for products made using their shells in many European and Asian nations has led to the capture of a large number of turtles which is not sustainable. Newly hatched sea turtles rely on the natural light of the moon to find their way to the oceans. They are unable to do this in the presence of artificial lights used in resorts that have been created along the coast where they lay their eggs. The rapid development along the coasts has led to a large number of turtles being eaten by predators after the eggs hatch. Hawksbill turtles have also been badly affected by several oil spills in the reefs inhabited by them.


The extinction of the Hawksbill sea turtle will not have any major subsequent impact on the environment. Their numbers are already quite low and they do not play a major role in keeping in check the proliferation of any other species. But the extinction of a harmless and beautiful species of turtle in itself is a very serious problem, especially when humans are responsible for this.


It is our responsibility as the most intelligent and powerful species on the Earth to help maintain genetic diversity and save all other species that inhabit the Earth.

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