May 30, 2008
The 2008 Great Turtle Race
This year, Humane Society International is supporting the Great Turtle Race (June 2-June 16, 2008) to help raise awareness of the threats endangered leatherback sea turtles face and how people can help protect this unique species. Sign up to support your favorite turtle and to learn more about the plight of the leatherbacks. The race follows the migration of turtles wearing satellite tags as they travel across the Pacific, but the true race is their race against extinction.
Threats
Leatherbacks, like other sea turtles, face a variety of threats including commercial fishing, pollution, ship strikes, development of nesting beaches, entertainment and consumption of their meat, eggs, shell, and skin.
HSI works to increase legal protection for leatherbacks and other sea turtles through international agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles (IAC) and commercial fishing agreements like the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission.
We also work to reduce consumption of sea turtles and their products. Our Don’t Buy Wild campaign urges consumers to use their buying power to stop exploitation of wild animals and their habitat.
What You Can Do
- Sign up to support one of the turtles in the Great Turtle Race! Get updates on his/her progress and learn more about what you can do to help leatherbacks.
- Sign our Don't Buy Wild pledge.
- Take action for other animals.
More About the Race
Watch The Great Turtle Race as 11 leatherback turtles, including Billie II, Drexelina II and Saphira II, migrate from California to their nesting beach in Indonesia and from the nesting beach to the foraging grounds in California. Following this Olympiad race across the Pacific will bring new excitement to the summer and raise funds to support leatherback conservation in Indonesia and at sea.
Eleven schools and non-profit organizations are sponsoring turtles in the Race, including two organizations in China, thereby engaging millions of people in the conservation cause of the turtles. Check out the new racecourse at www.greatturtlerace.com.