An Aquatic Symbol | My Favorite Animal
So many animals of all shapes and sizes are scattered across this blue planet of ours. They fly through the skies, walk on land and swim through oceans; they all have different abilities and adaptations which enable them to survive most harsh conditions Mother Nature throws their way. Humans are so often in awe of the creatures around us. Now I have a confession. Even though I love to learn about the environment and the animals around me, I don’t really watch The Discovery Channel or Animal Planet. They just don’t capture my attention. But I’ve been really into watching those documentaries from BBC, so I’m still getting my fill of animal education.
The animal I’m most interested in, however, doesn’t have much known about it. They’ve been around for millions of years, prehistoric type animals living among men. I’ve been in love with these reptiles for as long as I can remember; they are, quite literally, my favorite animal.
photo courtesy GregReese/Pixabay.com
Turtles! This probably doesn’t surprise anyone at this point. Turtles are at their most popular in recent years. There are probably thousands of people who would tell you that their favorite animal is the turtle. The smaller species make unique and long-living pets if you take care of them correctly. I’ve had a few pet turtles of my own; one was even gifted to me! I loved my pet turtles, but I've always been intrigued by their larger, marine counterparts.
photo courtesy Free-Photos/Pixabay.com
There are Seven types of Sea Turtles, with six of that seven found roaming temperate waters all over the world. Their nests are found miles away from a population of these animals, and the females travel hundreds of miles to make their nests on the same beach they were born at. No one really knows how the female turtles find their way back when they come to sexual maturity, but a common theory is that they imprint on that beach’s magnetic signature as babies, and navigate the Earth’s magnetic fields to find their birthplace.
photo courtesy Pexels/Pixabay.com
They are basically the nomads of the sea, which might be the reason that the symbolism of the turtle has been found in cultures all over the world. They are symbols of wisdom and longevity in Japanese and Chinese culture, and some western cultures have also been found to have this symbolism. Other cultures, namely Native American and Hindu, depict the turtle as holding the world (or at least a part of it) on their shells. Other cultures see the turtle as totems of protection, luck, or, oddly enough, fertility.
Photo courtesy Imagine_Images/Pixabay.com
Interestingly, sea turtles have turned into an international mascot for environmentalism and conservation. Possibly because of their importance to the ecosystems they are a part of, and how human interactions have been threatening the turtles’ livelihoods. The same turtles that are found all over the world are endangered. Their populations are hard to get a hold of because these creatures rarely leave the waters they live in, but we know that their populations have steadily been declining. Water pollution and unchecked coastal development are threatening the livelihoods, nesting grounds, and habitats of these animals. Baby turtles often get trapped in plastic waste, which makes them easy to spot targets for predators. Adult turtles can mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, and because their digestive system cannot break down those materials, they die. Straws and other small plastics can get trapped in their nostrils or their throats, making it hard for them to breathe and eat.
Photo courtesy DVOC/Pixabay.com
Ending (or if that word is too much for you right now, Lessening) plastic waste is an important part of keeping these animals healthy for the rest of our life span, and theirs. I’ll be the first to admit, it’s not easy to keep track of all the plastic waste that you produce; I’ve been trying to do better on the recycling/reusing front. Using recyclable/reusable and biodegradable materials is an important part of the mission to keep the oceans clean. I want these aquatic reptiles and all other aquatic animals to be around for my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to enjoy.
Thanks for Clicking,
Chey❤️
Lots of Research went into this post. If you'd like to know more about any of the points I touched on in this post, links are below!
https://www.livescience.com/49468-turtles-migration-magnetic-field.html
http://www.oceanhealthindex.org/news/Sea_Turtles:_Why_We_Care
https://defenders.org/sea-turtles/basic-facts
https://mysticurious.com/symbolic-meaning-of-turtles-in-different-cultures
https://conserveturtles.org/information-sea-turtles-threats-marine-debris/
https://defenders.org/sites/default/files/publications/five-things-you-can-do-to-save-sea-turtles.pdf
Happy Researching!
