In April 2007, eleven leatherback turtles
captured the imagination of the public worldwide as they
"raced" from Costa Rica toward the Galápagos Islands.
Known as the Great Turtle Race, this event tracked these
critically endangered sea turtles, drawing attention to
their fragile status and generating data on the turtles
vital to efforts to study and protect
them.
But the Great Turtle Race is
just one of many tools marine conservationists use to
inform people about the status, biology, and lives of
the seven sea turtle species. Due to human actions,
once-plentiful sea turtle population levels plummeted
throughout much of the twentieth century, stabilizing
somewhat only after Archie Carr and Jacques Cousteau
popularized their plight. With Saving Sea
Turtles, award-winning author James R. Spotila
picks up where Carr and Cousteau left off, going inside
the modern-day conservation movement to tell the tales
of today’s sea turtle conservationists. He provides a
complete overview of sea turtle biology and life cycles,
discusses the human and natural world threats they face,
and examines the new methods and technologies humans are
using to save them. Throughout, Spotila dots the
narrative with stories of real-life heroes who risk life
and limb to understand, track, and conserve sea turtles
across the globe.
Spotila has been at
the forefront of sea turtle research and conservation
for decades. His inspirational story of dedicated
individuals, creative endeavors, and adventure reveals
what is being done and what else we must do in order to
ensure that these fascinating animals continue swimming
in the oceans.