Green Sea Turtle Conservation Facts

Ascension Island serves as a crucial nesting site for the endangered green sea turtle. Female turtles travel 1,200 miles from Brazil to lay eggs on the beaches where they were born. Historically, these turtles faced threats from hunters who harvested them for food, but conservation efforts since the 1930s have helped the population recover. Today, Ascension Island hosts the second largest green sea turtle colony in the Atlantic. Despite millions of eggs being laid, only a small fraction of hatchlings survive to adulthood, continuing the cycle of life.

What is the primary reason female green sea turtles return to Ascension Island?

• To find food

• To escape predators

• To lay eggs

• To bask in the sun

How far do female turtles travel from their feeding grounds to Ascension Island?

• 3,000 miles

• 2,000 miles

• 1,200 miles

• 500 miles

What was the main reason for the decline in the turtle population before the 1930s?

• Natural predators

• Overharvesting by humans

• Climate change

• Pollution

When was the practice of harvesting turtles and their eggs banned?

• 1920s

• 1930s

• 1940s

• 1950s

What is the current status of the green sea turtle population on Ascension Island?

• Rebounded with a large colony

• Declining

• Endangered

• Extinct

How many times can a female turtle nest in a year?

• Up to 7 times

• Up to 5 times

• Up to 3 times

• Up to 9 times

What is the survival rate of hatchlings reaching adulthood?

• 1 in 100

• 1 in 500

• 1 in 1,000

• 1 in 10,000

What do baby turtles do immediately after hatching?

• Stay on the beach

• Head towards the ocean

• Look for food

• Hide in the sand

What is the significance of the turtles returning to the same beach?

• To avoid predators

• To continue the cycle of life

• To find mates

• To find their parents