Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

Earth Stats — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:04:44 +0000

Between 1978 and 1991, only 200 Kemp’s ridley sea turtles nested annually near Rancho Nuevo, which is a dramatic decline from the more than 42,000 that arrived in a massive synchronized nesting in one day in 1947. Contributing to the start of their decline was the sighting of villagers harvesting 80%, or 33,000, of the eggs that had been deposited on the beach during that incredible day.

According to the National Parks Service, “During each summer from 1978 to 1988, approximately 2,000 Kemp’s ridley eggs were transported from Rancho Nuevo to the National Seashore.”

The Kemp’s ridley is on the road to recovery and in the year 2000 an estimated 2,000 females returned to the beaches of Rancho Nuevo to nest. By 2003 the number had climbed to 3,600 females and produced more than 8,000 nests, while in 2006 a total of 12,413 nests were recorded in Mexico of which 7,866 were on Rancho Nuevo.

“On the Texas coast, 251 Kemp’s ridley nests were recorded from 2002-2006. For the 2007 nesting season, 128 nests have been recorded in Texas, with 73 of those nests documented at Padre Island National Seashore. Those 128 nests are a record for the Texas coast, passing the 2006 record of 102 nests.” NOAA

Kemp’s ridley nesting data for the Texas coast

Galapagos Tortoise

Earth Stats — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:56:34 +0000

The Galapagos giant tortoise species encompasses 14 subspecies of which 10 still remain in the wild. Growing to a length of up to 4 feet, and reaching ages well over 100 years, the Galapagos tortoise population is considered vulnerable primarily due to predation of offspring by invasive species such as cats and rats, and competition for food by goats. Populations were at one time under threat from passing sailors, and the threats as a whole have contributed to their decline.

Estimated population in the year 1535 was 250,000 tortoises

Population in the year 2008 was a mere 6% (15,000) of their former numbers.

Number bred in captivity and released into the wild in 2000 was 1,000 tortoises.

Population by subspecies and island:

Santiago has 800 surviving tortoises
Pinzon has 300 tortoises
Santa Cruz with 3000 tortoises
San Cristobal populated with 700 tortoises
Española population has recovered to 2,000 tortoises with captive breeding program
Isabela Island is unique in that each of its 5 volcanoes has a separate subspecies: Cerro Azul with about 700, Sierra Negra with 500, Alcedo has 5000, Darwin has 1000 and Wolf Volcano with 2000 tortoises.
Pinta has only 1 remaining tortoise aptly named ‘Lonesome George’. George has been relocated to the Charles Darwin Research Station for protection and a breeding/recovery program.

Data: Galapagos Conservation trust

BIOtheNUMBERS » reptiles

Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

Galapagos Tortoise