Sea Turtles have been around since the dinosaurs and have
survived natural disasters, predators and other threats. Now, human activity appears to be a problem
they cannot overcome. Multitudes of sea turtles are killed each year. Their
shell is used to manufacture expensive artifacts that can be sold to tourists.
Their meat is eaten as a luxury product, and their blood and eggs are
considered to have special medicinal properties when consumed in different cultures
all over the world. Historically people
have harvested sea turtles in small numbers; however the versatility of turtles
as something to be sold combined with their utter defenselessness has turned
the hunting practice into a destructive commercial enterprise that has,
combined with other threats, left all seven species of sea turtle endangered. Five of those species are found on the North
Carolina coast.
From different sea turtles, fatty tissues are processed to make oil and creams. These tissues were historically used to produce oil for lamps, boat varnish, and cosmetics. Currently, vials of turtle oil are marketed as medicines or for use as an aphrodisiac. In some cultures sea turtle blood is used as a cure for anemia and taken to promote fertility. Their eggs are sold as a delicacy and touted to promote longevity and virility in some cultures. Whole shells are varnished and sold as decoration or individual scales can be molded into jewelry, or used as decoration on any number of objects
Meat from turtles is traditionally eaten in many cultures or served as a delicacy to tourists around the globe.
From different sea turtles, fatty tissues are processed to make oil and creams. These tissues were historically used to produce oil for lamps, boat varnish, and cosmetics. Currently, vials of turtle oil are marketed as medicines or for use as an aphrodisiac. In some cultures sea turtle blood is used as a cure for anemia and taken to promote fertility. Their eggs are sold as a delicacy and touted to promote longevity and virility in some cultures. Whole shells are varnished and sold as decoration or individual scales can be molded into jewelry, or used as decoration on any number of objects
Meat from turtles is traditionally eaten in many cultures or served as a delicacy to tourists around the globe.