Green sea turtle, San Diego, California, USA

© Ralph Pace/Minden Picture

Green sea turtle

In the vast expanse of the world's oceans, the green turtle is the largest of the hard-shelled sea turtles. They are herbivores, with a diet consisting of seagrasses and algae. It's this plant-based feast that lends a greenish hue to their fat, giving them their name. This globetrotter is found predominantly across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but can also be spotted in the Indian Ocean. It has an average lifespan of 60 years. However, beneath the surface lies a troubling truth—the green sea turtle's once-thriving populations have plummeted by an alarming 90 percent over the past 50 years due to pollution and climate change. They are at the precipice of endangerment, and there is a need for conservation efforts to safeguard their future now more than ever. So, whether you're planting trees, cleaning up beaches or simply spreading the word, let's remember to promote sustainable living. After all, there's no planet B!