World Turtle Day is celebrated every year on May 23. The day is a time to celebrate the importance of turtles in our environment.

World Turtle Day is celebrated to raise awareness about this rapidly disappearing group of creatures.

History Of World Turtle Day

American Tortoise Rescue (ATR), a non-profit organisation established in 1990, started observing May 23 as World Turtle Day in 2001.

ATR was founded by Susan Tellem and her husband Marshall Thompson. The organisation has rescued and re-sheltered over 4,000 turtles and tortoises so far.

Theme

The theme for World Turtle Day 2022 is - 'Shellebrate!' Asks Everyone to Love and Save Turtles.

Do you know how old this species is?

If not, then let's see the full news.

The turtles are said to be one of the oldest living species in the world, which is about 200 million years old. These species existed on earth even before birds, snakes and lizards.

According to biologists, turtles can live for so long only because they have been given a shield that protects them.

Now, let's see how many species of turtles exist.

There are a total of 300 species of turtles in the world, out of which 129 species are endangered.

Turtles Found In India

1. Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
2. Hawksbill Tortoise (Eretmochelys imbricata)
3. Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
4. Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
5. Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)

Ways To Celebrate World Turtle Day

World Turtle Day can be celebrated in various ways. According to American Turtle Rescue-

• Do not buy tortoiseshell or tortoiseshell from pet stores
• Don't buy turtles less than four inches in length - this is the U.S.  Illegal!
• Report the Illegal Sale of Turtles to Your Local Animal Shelter
• Do not take turtles or tortoises from the wild unless they are sick or injured.
• Write to your MLAs!  Ask them to build housing and protected/sanctuary space.
• If the tortoise is crossing the road, lead it in the direction it was going!  If you put it back in the direction it was coming from, it will try to cross the road again.

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