Cayman Island turtles make a return

New studies released on the conservation efforts of sea turtles on the Cayman Islands show the turtles are far from locally extinct, as many feared. The turtle populations are beginning to thrive again.

Photo by Jolo Diaz

The Cayman Islands are home to a range of species of turtles. In fact, the islands were originally named Las Tortugas because of the abundance of turtles. Since as early as the 1500s, the turtles have been under threat, with over hunting pushing certain species to the brink of extinction. Other unintentional human elements that have affected turtle numbers include the destruction of habitats, pollution and damage during fishing other sea life.

Conservation efforts have had some effect over the last 30 years but there have been set backs. Illegal hunting has certainly been part of that. In 2001, Hurricane Michelle wiped out 75 per cent of the breeding population of turtles on the Cayman Turtle Centre, harming their captive breeding and release program.

The good news is that studies recently released say that conservation efforts are starting to show their results. A study undertaken by the Cayman Islands Department of Environment and the University of Exeter shows that sea turtle nests increased to 675 in 2019, up from just 39 nests when the study began in 1998.

Photo by Jolo Diaz

The sea turtle was thought to be near local extinction. Now the efforts of decades of ecological management have paid off.

It’s not all good news, unfortunately. While the positive results have come in for the green turtle and the loggerhead turtle, the hawksbill turtle numbers remain low.

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