Guyana hosts important nesting sites for at least three of the five endangered marine turtle species in the Atlantic. The species found in Guyana are the Leatherback (Dermochelys Coriacea); the Green (Chelonia mydas); and the Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea). The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) nests only very infrequently in the country. Because of increasing threats to marine turtles, all species are protected in Guyana. This means that marine turtles may not be hunted, nests may not be dug up, and eggs may not be collected, sold or consumed. Unfortunately, despite these regulations, marine turtles continue to be hunted and people continue to collect and eat eggs.

Concern for marine turtles is not restricted to Guyana. Marine turtles are recognised internationally as species of conservation concern. All of the marine turtle species found in Guyana are listed in the 2000 IUCN (World Conservation Union) Red List of Threatened Animals. All marine turtles occurring in Guyana’s territorial waters are also listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and are a priority for conservation under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (the Bonn Convention or CMS).

Question: Which is the largest of the three species of marine turtles listed above? Why would eating turtle eggs threaten survival of the species?

Please send answers and your contact information to:

TURTLES

WWF Guianas

87A Ituni Street

Bel Air Park,

Georgetown.

WWF Guianas is a non-profit environmental organization based in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana. We are a sub-office of the World Wildlife Fund International network whose primary function is the protection of the world’s wildlife and ecosystems. WWF Guianas currently works on forest, species and freshwater conservation. Its species programme is designed to help protect many of the region’s endangered and rapidly disappearing fauna and flora. One species of very special concern are marine turtles. As part of a conservation effort, WWF Guianas is pleased to share the following important information.