It would seem fairly incontestable that any life form with a history of 150 million years on the planet has an innate edge to continue that existence undisturbed. But that does not happen to be the case of the lowly turtle, whose numbers are dwindling and whose six species are all considered in danger of extinction. There are many reasons for the problem: pollution, man-made destruction of coastal areas where turtles nest and global warming, perhaps the most insidious turtles' enemies. A variation of only one or two degrees in the temperature can have devastating consequences on the hatch-rate of turtle eggs and the current warming trend of the earth has left its mark. Across the world, in areas that have been frequented by egg-laying turtles for millennia, research projects and local turtle experts have formed groups that now gather many freshly laid eggs and keep them in controlled conditions to better ensure hatching. It is the only way to keep this animal on earth when 99% of hatchlings in nature are not destined to live even a year. It is a numbers game. And it's one in which the turtles are losing. The worst places for turtles are those where the native population and, especially, business community has shown ignorance in the face of the problem. By building hotels and restaurants just behind Costa Rican beaches, for example, sand shifted by rising water levels has nowhere to go and the beach disappears, leaving turtles with nowhere to lay their eggs. Oman has passed numerous laws designed to protect its turtles and has even downplayed how many turtles actually lay eggs there and where. The country is well aware of this natural asset, both for tourism and ecological reasons, and is making a serious attempt to ensure that the turtles continue to nest there. Without a combined effort on the part of our entire society, the turtle will be lost after 150 million years, it doesn't seem fair. __
