Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle

Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle - Lepidochelys Kempii

http://grovemarine2014.weebly.com/kemps-ridley-sea-turtle-lepidochelys-kempii

Ecology and Description:

The Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle is the smallest sea turtle, weighing only 100 pounds and stretching a total of 2 feet. The carapace, or shell, of Kemp’s Ridley is an olive grey, and the plastron, or underside, is a yellowish white. Its head is shaped like a triangle and it has a hooked beak with large crushing abilities. They feed primarily on decapod crustaceans, mollusks, fish, and jellyfish. Between the months of April and July, the female Kemp Ridley turtles return to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and lay a clutch of about 100 eggs. They lay an average of 2.5 clutches a season. 

Geographic and Population Changes:

https://katypye.com/help-sea-turtles/elizabeths-sea-turtles/kemps-ridley-basics-2/

 The primary habitat for the Kemp's Ridley is the waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico. They spend most of their time in warm shallow waters. However, they also range on the coasts of the U.S. and the Atlantic coast of North America. Due to various threats, the number of nesting sites have been drastically reduced. Between the years 1947 and 1985, there was a decline of 39,000 nests. However, due to nest protection efforts and new implementations regulating turtle excluder devices, their nesting numbers have increased significantly. 

Listing Date and Type of Listing:

The Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle was listed as endangered December 2, 1970. They are currently protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act. In 1984, a bi-national project between the United States and Mexico was formed to help protect them. The plan has been revised twice.

Threats to Existence:

·      Illegal Harvest- Poaching of eggs
·      Accidental Capture- Fisheries by-catch

·      Beach Cleaning- Destroys nests and crushes eggs

·      Human Presence- Prevents turtles from coming to shore to nest
·      Oil and Gas Exploration/Production in the Gulf of Mexico

The decline of the species is primarily due to human activities.

Recovery Plan:
The key to recovery is maintaining and strengthening the conservation efforts that have been successful in the past. Protection in both the terrestrial and marine environment is necessary in order to de-list the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle. Both the United States and Mexico have worked to reduce the measures of incidental capture. They've also been working on research and monitoring in order to better understand the habits of these turtles. 

What can you do?
1. Inform and educate people around you.
2. Donate to organizations and foundations that work to help protect the turtles.
3. Adopt a turtle! 

ADOPT: http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/adopt/index.shtml?map=&gom=&species=Kemp%27s+Ridley&gender=&country=&cname=

DONATE: https://support.worldwildlife.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=main_monthly&s_src=AWE1804OQ18299A01180RX&_ga=2.92591637.965102036.1510352616-2019228643.1510352616

 Other Resources:

Sources:

https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/kempsridley_revision2_with%20signature.pdf

http://grovemarine2014.weebly.com/kemps-ridley-sea-turtle-lepidochelys-kempii

https://www.fws.gov/northflorida/seaturtles/turtle%20factsheets/kemps-ridley-sea-turtle.htm

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/kempsridley.html

Blog by: Jordyn Ramos