Turtle Adoption Day is an important holiday observed annually on November 27th. It aims to initiate conversations about endangered reptiles and the actions needed to protect them.

Turtles have inhabited this planet for over 100 million years, and now many turtle species are on the endangered species list due to human activity over the past several hundred years.

Some of the most endangered turtle species include the Radiated Tortoise, Painted Terrapin, Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, Flattened Musk Turtle, and the Yellow-Headed Box Turtle. This list represents only a fraction of the turtles currently facing extinction. Therefore, it is crucial for us to unite in protecting these magnificent creatures.

The History of Turtle Adoption Day

This holiday was established following an article by Christine Shaw on the Found Animals website, which advocated for turtle support. She published this article on November 15th, 2011, and the holiday was first observed two days later. It has been celebrated annually on November 27th since then.

Some Important Facts About Turtles

To emphasize the importance of protecting all turtle species, we have compiled a list of remarkable facts discovered during our research on Turtle Adoption Day. We hope these facts will motivate turtle enthusiasts to take action in safeguarding turtles.

• The cartilage and fat of the Green Sea Turtle are green because their diet consists mainly of sea grass and algae.
• Sea turtles lay their eggs in the sand, using their rear flippers to dig the nest, known as a clutch.
• The sand’s temperature determines whether a nest will produce primarily male or female turtles.
• Warmer sand temperatures yield female turtles, while cooler temperatures result in male turtles.
• Global warming is leading to a decrease in male turtle hatchlings, which is detrimental to sea turtle populations.
• Leatherback Sea Turtles have been around in their current form since the Age of Dinosaurs.
• Sea Turtles can stay submerged for hours at a time.

Observing Turtle Adoption Day

On this day, individuals can adopt a turtle, donate to a turtle conservation organization, or raise awareness about the plight of turtles using the hashtag #TurtleAdoptionDay. The more people who learn about this holiday, the more who can help. Let’s all collaborate to preserve turtles for future generations to appreciate.