THREATS
Turtles face threats on land and in the water.
IUCN STATUS
All five species found in Southern African waters are listed on the IUCN Red List.
Least
Concern
Near
Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically
Endangered
Extinct in
the wild
Extinct
Loggerheads
Leatherbacks
Green turtles
Hawksbills
Olive Ridleys
LISTED THREATS
Natural threats
Intentional human threats
Unintentional human threats
Climate change is causing an increase in the temperature of the sand, thus causing more females to hatch than males.
Illegal harvesting.
Plastic pollution is a major threat to turtles. Some turtles feed on jellyfish – a clear plastic bag floating in the water may be mistaken for a jellyfish.
Coastal development and beach driving in uncontrolled areas is destroying turtle nests.
Turtles become entangled in fishing line discarded by fishermen.
Many turtles are caught as bycatch in the nets of trawlers or as bycatch in the longline fishery.
Light pollution can disorient turtle hatchlings, causing them to scurry inland rather than to the sea.
Some turtles are injured in collisions with boats.