We are passionate about wildlife and not just our feathered friends in the “Turtle Towers” garden; we believe marine conversation is an important and often overlooked area too.

Following the recent explosion and subsequent sinking of the BP-leased Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico, marine conservation and the impact this event will have on marine life has come to the fore; as there is increasing concern about both the short and long-term damage the continuing spill of oil will have on the area’s wildlife.

Figures from the Marine Conservation Society show that well over 30 turtles have already washed up dead along the Mississippi coast after eating food contaminated by oil.

Sea turtle species are highly vulnerable to events such as this and with important nesting beaches along the coastline, the impact is felt even more keenly.

So what can we do? As you may have spotted in our catalogues, we have been supporting the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) for a number of years, specifically in their vital work to save marine turtles from extinction and now could not be a better time to get involved too.

This Sunday is World Turtle Day and one key way to make a difference is to Adopt a Turtle with the MCS – with only 1 in 1,000 baby turtles making it to adulthood in some parts of the world, due to various factors including the black market trade in turtle eggs and destruction of habitats your support can make a real difference.

Visit http://www.mcsuk.org/ to find out more about the great work the Marine Conservation Society does both here and abroad and how you can get involved.

Adopt a turtle for World Turtle Day with the MCS - http://www.mcsuk.org/support_mcs/Join Donate Adopt/Adopt a turtle/Adopt a turtle

What MCS is and what does it do? MCS is the Marine Conservation Society in the UK. This charity is dedicated to caring for seas, shores and wildlife. Since it’s foundation in 1977 MCS has worked successfully to highlight issues of concern and threats to marine wildlife and the wider marine environment. By using education and community involvement MCS raises awareness of the many threats that face our seas and promotes individual, industry and government action to protect the marine environment.

Thousands of volunteers and a network of local supporters’ groups help MCS to achieve common goals. Now you can become one of them by adopting a small turtle.

Let’s show some facts about turtles and present some species that specially need YOUR help.

Turtles have roamed our oceans for millions of years, they survived all those years not being disturbed by people. But recently they have been threatened by human activities at sea and on their nesting beaches. By adopting a turtle, you are enabling MCS to continue to support marine turtle conservation projects around the world.

What are the species that you can adopt? Let’s show one or two examples:

LEATHERBACK TURTLE

The huge leatherback is the largest of the marine turtles. Leatherbacks migrate to UK waters each summer, where they feast on jellyfish. This species is critically endangered! And your support will help MCS make UK seas safe for these gentle giants.

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KEMP’S RIDLEY TURTLE

This is the rarest marine turtle, with only about 5,000 adult female Kemp’s ridley turtles left in the world. They nest only a couple of beaches in Mexico and Texas and your support will help MCS contribute to Kemps ridley conservation.

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OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLE:

The smallest of the turtles (the olive ridley nests en masse in spectacular events known as arribadas). These turtles face serious threats from fisheries and development and your support will allow us to help conservation projects around the world.

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FLATBACK TURTLE

Flatback turtle hatchlings are the largest and cutest of all the marine turtle babies. The flatback nests only in Australia and does not stray far from Australia’s waters. They are threatened by accidental capture in fishing gear and nesting beach development and although their status is not known, they depend on conservation efforts for their survival.

For those who will decide on adopting a turtle MCS prepared a fantastic adoption pack – full of posters, factsheets, a personalised certificate and cute cuddly turtle. But that’s not all! Adopters also receive the bi-annual ”Talk Turtle” newsletter, which includes games, competitions and news from the marine turtle conservation and research projects MCS is supporting around the world.

There are also other ways how you can help little turtles. For example donate or become a suporter. If you are interested read more about how to help .

MCS is also educating people what are the dangers for turtles caused by tourism. Watch the wideo “Turtles in Trouble: You can make a difference!” and get know how your holiday at the beach inflicts turtles that might nest there. You will also see how you can make a difference tourism-related threats to marine turtles at popular holiday destinations.

You can make an amazing gift for a friend or a loved one. Whether you will do it for yourself or others you will be helping secure a safer future for endangered marine turtles. Sweet little turtles need your help. With a really small effort you can make a big difference in whole world. It’s worth helping those turtles. So don’t hesitate and adopt-a-turtle!

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