Sea Turtle Poaching (Secondary)

SEA TURTLE POACHING
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Slide 1: Slide
Social StudiesHistory+37-9 Grade9-11 Grade

This lesson contains 31 slides, with interactive quizzes, text slides and 1 video.

time-iconLesson duration is: 45 min

Introduction

Overfishing is emptying the ocean, with 90% of fisheries already overfished. Illegal poaching is having a big impact on species like sea turtles. This lesson focuses on sea turtle poaching.

Instructions

This lesson focuses on one of the main reasons why sea turtles are endangered – poaching.

Time: 45 minutes

Contact: education@seashepherdglobal.org
© Sea Shepherd 2021

Instructions

Worksheets

Items in this lesson

SEA TURTLE POACHING

Slide 1 - Slide

This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd.  Sea Shepherd was founded in 1977 and is a marine conservation organisation working to protect the oceans and marine wildlife.  Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the oceans, running numerous direct action campaigns each year.  Sea turtle poaching is one area Sea Shepherd is working on to help stop sea turtles becoming extinct.
What you already know...
You are going to learn...
Action required!

Evaluate your knowledge

Click on the image

Watch  the video

Slide 2 - Slide

During the lesson we will use these icons to identify the learning actions.
Illegal poaching endangering sea turtles.
Illegal poaching endangering sea turtles.

Slide 3 - Slide

This lesson focuses on one of the main reasons why sea turtles are endangered – poaching.

INTERACTIVE JOIN – ask students to go to www.LessonUp.app

What do you already know
about sea turtle poaching?

Slide 4 - Mind map

What do you already know?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.  

“What do you already know about sea turtle poaching?”

Slide 5 - Video

Empty ocean by 2050
Scientists estimate that by 2050 the ocean ecosystem will be on the verge of collapse, empty of fish and marine wildlife, unless urgent action is taken on the issues impacting on the oceans and marine wildlife.

Show this video (2.53min), which explains how important all species are to our planet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLcA31VRlRU

Discuss the video with the class and what it means.

Current sea turtle species appeared
over 100 million years ago.
Current sea turtle species appeared over 100 million years ago.

Slide 6 - Slide

 Sea turtles
Sea turtles as a species have existed since the time of the dinosaurs, with the current species of sea turtles starting to appear over 100 million years ago.

Seven main species of sea turtle.
Seven main species of sea turtle.

Slide 7 - Slide

Sea turtle species
There are 7 main sea turtle species.
Ask students to name the sea turtle species they know?

Hawksbill
Green
Loggerhead
Leatherack

Slide 8 - Drag question

Match the images
Using www.LessonUp.app ask students to match the image of the sea turtle to its name.

Sea Turtle species
SEA TURTLE SPECIES

Hawksbill
    Weight up to 70kg (154pounds) 90cm (3 feet).
    Hawks beak, which allows to get food from coral reefs.
    2 claws on front flippers.

Olive Ridley
    70 cm (2.5 feet) 45kg(100pounds).
    Olive green shell colour.
    Front and rear flippers have a claw.

Slide 9 - Slide

Hawsbill and Olive Ridley
Ask students to share facts they know about these species of sea turtle:
➢    What are the shells made of?
➢    How long can they dive for?
➢    How long do they live?
➢    What do they eat?

The 7 species of sea turtles are:
Hawksbill
➢    Weight up to 70kg (154pounds) 90cm (3 feet).
➢    Hawks beak, which allows to get food from coral reefs.
➢    2 claws on front flippers.

Olive Ridley
➢    70 cm (2.5 feet) 45kg(100pounds).
➢    Olive green shell colour.
➢    front and rear flippers have a claw.

Sea turtle species

SEA TURTLE SPECIES

Kemp Ridley
    66 cm (2feet) 50 kg (110 pounds).
    Dark green shell, while underside is white or yellowish.

Green
    Grow to 1.1m (4 feet) long and up to 190kg (420 pounds).
    Brown to olive shell, but have green skin.

Slide 10 - Slide

Kemp Ridley and Green
Ask students to share facts they know about these species of sea turtle:
➢    What are shells made of?
➢    How long can they dive for?
➢    How long do they live?
➢    What do they eat?

Kemp Ridley
➢    66 cm (2feet) 50 kg (110 pounds).
➢    Dark green shell, while underside is white or yellowish.

Green
➢    Grow to 1.1m (4 feet) long and up to 190kg (420 pounds).
➢    Brown to olive shell, but have green skin.

SEA TURTLE SPECIES

Loggerhead
     110 cm (3.5 feet) 170kg (375 pounds).
     Large head, reddish brown shell.

Leatherback
    Thin layer of tough skin over shell that gives it the appearance of leather.
    183cm (6 feet) 500kg (1,100 pounds).

Flatback
    Shell is flat compared to other turtles.
    99cm (3.25 feet) and 90kg (198 pounds).

Slide 11 - Slide

Loggerhead, Leatherback and Flatback sea turtles
Ask students to share facts they know about these species of sea turtle:
➢    What are the shells made of?
➢    How long can they dive for?
➢    How long do they live?
➢    What do they eat?

Loggerhead
➢    110 cm (3.5 feet) 170kg (375 pounds).
➢    Large head, reddish brown shell.

Leatherback
➢    thin layer of tough skin over shell that gives it the appearance of leather.
➢    183cm (6 feet) 500kg (1,100 pounds).

Flatback
➢    Shell is flat compared to other sea turtles.
➢    99cm (3.25 feet) and 90kg (198 pounds).


6 of 7 species are endangered
or critically endangered

•    Hawksbill and Kemp’s Ridley - critically endangered
•    Green and Loggerhead - endangered
•    Leatherback and Olive Ridley - vulnerable
•    Flatback turtles are the only ones not currently listed as endangered, but it is listed as endangered in Australia.

Slide 12 - Slide

Facing extinction
Endangered status of sea turtles.
6 of the 7 species are currently endangered or critically endangered.
•    Hawksbill and Kemp’s Ridley - critically endangered.
•    Green and Loggerhead – endangered.
•    Leatherback and Olive Ridley – vulnerable.
•    Flatback turtles are the only ones not currently listed as endangered, but are listed as endangered in Australia.

What do you think are the
main reasons why sea turtles
are endangered?

Slide 13 - Mind map

Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.  

“What do you think are the main reasons why sea turtles are endangered?”


Why sea turtles are endangered?

These include:
-    Plastic pollution
-    Oil spills
-    Coastal development impacting nesting
-    Costal development taking away habitat and food.
-    Climate change
-    Entanglement in ALD fishing gear
-    Bycatch by commercial fishing
-    Poaching


Slide 14 - Slide

Why sea turtles are endangered
There are a number of issues impacting on sea turtles.
These include:
➢    Plastic pollution
➢    Oil spills
➢    Coastal development impacting nesting
➢    Costal development taking away habitat and food.
➢    Climate change.
➢    Entanglement in ALD fishing gear
➢    Bycatch by commercial fishing
➢    Poaching

Today we will be focusing on poaching.

Why do you think sea turtles
are taken by poachers?

Slide 15 - Open question

Sea turtle poaching
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.  

Why do you think sea turtles are widely taken by poachers?
(What do they use them for?)

For turtle meat, eggs and
the shells to make ornaments.
For turtle meat, eggs and the shells to make ornaments.

Slide 16 - Slide

Sea turtle poaching
The main reasons for sea turtle poaching are:
➢    Turtle meat.
➢    Eggs taken for food.
➢    Shells – used to make ornaments and jewellery, often for tourists.

Female turtle coming ashore to nest.
Female turtle coming ashore to nest.

Slide 17 - Slide

Nesting sea turtles
Ask students when they think poachers are more likely to target sea turtles?

Answers:
➢    Female turtles come ashore for nesting season, where they lay their eggs on beaches.
➢    Sea turtles are slow moving and spend time digging a nest and laying eggs, then bury the eggs before heading back to sea. Poachers can wait until the eggs are laid and then attack the female turtle.


How do you think poachers know where
and when to find sea turtles?

Slide 18 - Open question

Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.  

“How do you think poachers know where and when to find sea turtles?

Female turtles use the same beach to nest on where they were born.
International laws regulate fishing.
Female turtles use the same beach to nest on where they were born.

Slide 19 - Slide

Nesting sea turtles
Female turtles will use the same beaches to nest on, often where they were born.

Nesting season is also a regular occurrence, so poachers come to know what time of year to watch for sea turtles and the beaches to monitor.



How does poaching from nesting beaches increase the risk of sea turtles becoming endangered or extinct?

Slide 20 - Open question

Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.  

“How does poaching from nesting beaches increase the risk of sea turtles becoming endangered or even extinct?”

Taking eggs takes away the
next generation of sea turtles.
Taking eggs takes away the next generation of sea turtles.

Slide 21 - Slide

Increasing risk of extinction
Poachers are effectively only taking female turtles that are reproducing, laying eggs.

They also often take the eggs – killing the next generation of sea turtles.

Only 1 in 1000 sea turtles survive from the eggs hatched to adulthood.

Protecting sea turtles around the world.
Protecting sea turtles around the world.

Slide 22 - Slide

Where are sea turtles hunted?
Sea turtles are hunted in many places around the world.

For example in places like Japan, the Western Pacific and Cuba, Hawksbill Turtles are killed for their colourful shell to make jewellery, hairbrushes, combs and other items. Tourists and local people buy these items.

Sea Shepherd runs campaigns to protect sea turtles. These have been in: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mayotte, Italy, Honduras, Florida (USA), Barbuda, Antigua and Cabo Verde.

Sea Shepherd Case Studies provide additional learning on some of these locations.

.

INTERNATIONAL LAW
& CITES

CITES - Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species, requires that countries who have signed up to CITES must prohibit any trade in sea turtles or anything made from them.

Individual countries may also have their own laws to protect sea turtles.


Slide 23 - Slide

Protecting sea turtles
How can we protect sea turtles from poachers?

International laws say it is illegal to carry sea turtle parts or products between countries.  Thus most poaching is for local purposes only.

CITES - Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species, requires that countries who have signed up to CITES must prohibit any trade in sea turtles or anything made from them.

Individual countries may also have their own laws to protect sea turtles.

Patrolling beaches to protect nesting turtles.

Slide 24 - Slide

Patrolling beaches
Conservation groups, like Sea Shepherd and local activists, patrol beaches to protect nesting turtles from poachers.

In high risk areas sea turtle eggs are removed from the nest and are taken to hatcheries where they can be kept safe until they hatch and can then be returned to the ocean.

How do you think you can
help protect sea turtles?

Slide 25 - Mind map

How do you think you can help protect sea turtles
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.  

“How do you think you can help protect sea turtles?”


How can you help
protect sea turtles?

Help stop the use of turtle eggs and meat by spreading awareness.

Never purchase products made from turtle shells.

Do not disturb nesting turtles, nests or hatchlings

Slide 26 - Slide

How do you think you can help protect sea turtles?
Some ways you can help include:
➢    Help stop the use of turtle eggs and meat by spreading awareness.
➢    Never purchase products made from turtle shells.
➢    Do not disturb nesting turtles, nests or hatchlings.
How can you help
protect sea turtles?
     If visiting nesting beaches ensure you remove your beach equipment. Eg. Beach chairs, umbrellas and children’s toys, so turtles can come ashore and hatchlings find their way to the ocean.

    Be sure to knock down sandcastles before you leave because they become obstacles for nesting turtles or new hatchlings.
    Don’t drive on nesting beaches, so as not to destroy eggs.

Slide 27 - Slide

How do you think you can help protect sea turtles?
Some ways you can help include:
➢    If visiting nesting beaches ensure you remove your beach equipment. Eg. Beach chairs, umbrellas and children’s toys, so turtles can come ashore and hatchlings find their way to the ocean.
➢    Be sure to knock down sandcastles before you leave because they become obstacles for nesting turtles or new hatchlings.
➢    Don’t drive on nesting beaches, so as not to destroy eggs.


Write down three things you have learned?

Slide 28 - Open question

What did you learn?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.  

“Write down three things you have learned?”



Write down one thing you didn't understand?

Slide 29 - Open question

What don’t you understand?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.  

“Write down one thing you didn’t understand?”

Slide 30 - Slide

Case studies
To enhance learning on this issue use some of the Sea Shepherd Case Studies on this topic, showing first hand accounts of what is happening to sea turtles.

www.seashepherdglobal.org

Slide 31 - Slide

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