Wildlife appeal · Five coastal countries
Protect sea turtles
Drowned in nets, choked by plastic and robbed of nesting beaches — sea turtles need nest protection, bycatch reduction and rescue across WARN's coastal partner network.
In brief
Sea turtles face drowning in nets, plastic ingestion and nest loss on beaches — most species are Endangered or worse, and only about one hatchling in a thousand reaches adulthood. UK supporters can fund nest protection, bycatch reduction and rescue across WARN's coastal partner network.
By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated
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What your monthly gift can do
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7
Sea turtle species worldwide
~1 in 1,000
Hatchlings reaching adulthood
6
Species Endangered or worse (IUCN)
5
WARN coastal partner countries
Sea turtles have navigated oceans for over 100 million years — yet populations have collapsed within a few human generations. WARN funds partner hatcheries, bycatch programmes and rescue clinics across its partner-network countries. Read why sea turtles are endangered and plastic's impact on marine animals.
What threats do sea turtles face?
Fisheries bycatch
Turtles drown in gillnets, on longlines and in trawls when they cannot reach the surface to breathe. Bycatch is among the leading causes of adult turtle mortality globally.
TEDs and circle hooks reduce bycatch where mandated
Plastic & marine debris
Turtles mistake plastic bags and balloons for jellyfish. Ingested debris causes blockages, malnutrition and death — a growing threat as ocean plastic rises.
Plastic ingestion documented in all seven species
Nest poaching & beach loss
Eggs are taken for food; nesting beaches are lost to development, erosion and artificial lighting that disorients hatchlings. Climate change skews hatchling sex ratios as sand warms.
Hawksbill Critically Endangered; green turtle Endangered
Boat strikes & entanglement
Injured turtles arrive at partner clinics with propeller wounds, hook injuries and ghost-net entanglement. Rapid veterinary care determines whether they return to the sea.
Rescue success depends on early triage
Illegal shell trade
Hawksbill turtles are killed for their ornate shells — "tortoiseshell" — despite international trade bans under CITES Appendix I.
Hawksbill listed Critically Endangered (IUCN)
Seven species — status at a glance
| Species | IUCN status | Key WARN coasts |
|---|---|---|
| Hawksbill | Critically Endangered | Indonesia, Malaysia, Colombia |
| Green | Endangered | Across the coastal network |
| Loggerhead | Vulnerable | Brazil, Pakistan |
| Leatherback | Vulnerable | Indonesia, Malaysia, Colombia |
| Olive ridley | Vulnerable | Indonesia, Brazil |
| Kemp's ridley | Critically Endangered | Search context only |
| Flatback | Data Deficient | Search context only |
Quick sea turtle facts
| Survival rate | ~1 in 1,000 hatchlings reaches adulthood |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | 50–80+ years for many species |
| Nesting | Females return to natal beaches to lay eggs |
| WARN coasts | Coastal partner network |
| Symbolic adoption | Adopt a sea turtle from £5/month |
| Bycatch solution | Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in trawl nets |
| CITES | All marine turtles Appendix I |
| What WARN does not fund | Unethical hatcheries that handle hatchlings for tourists |
What does WARN fund?
Partner hatcheries, bycatch gear and rescue clinics — see the sea turtle guide and ethical hatchery standards.
Focus 1
Protect Nesting Beaches
Beach patrols and protected hatcheries guarding nests from poaching and predators.
Focus 2
Reduce Bycatch
Turtle-safe fishing gear and training so fewer turtles drown in nets.
Focus 3
Rescue & Rehabilitation
Clinics treating turtles injured by boats, hooks, entanglement and plastic.
Focus 4
Clean Seas & Anti-Trade
Beach clean-ups, plastic-reduction work and action against illegal shell trade.
Choose your gift
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WARN is a registered global not-for-profit animal welfare organisation, not a charity, so it cannot claim Gift Aid. The donation case is transparency: low fixed costs and partner-led delivery in the countries where help is needed.