To mark Earth Day 2021, which takes place on Thursday 22nd April, we're shining the spotlight on our beloved sea turtles.
Lost Years is the rum brand devoted to saving endangered sea turtles - every bottle sold saves up to ten hatchlings by funding community-based conservation across the Caribbean and Latin America. With your help we'll save over 500,000 in the next few years!
Here are 12 amazing facts about sea turtles...
1. The magnificent seven
There are seven species of sea turtle found globally - the Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Leatherback, Olive Ridley, Kemp’s Ridley, Green and Flatback.
2. At risk
Six of the seven species of sea turtle are now classified as threatened or endangered.
3. Found in every ocean
Sea turtles are found in every ocean apart from the Arctic and Antarctic.
4. Heavyweight champions
Sea turtles can grow up to seven feet long and weigh up to 140 stone!
5. They outlived the dinosaurs
Sea turtles outlived the dinosaurs and have been around more than 110 million years.
6. Against the odds
It’s estimated that only 1 in 1000 sea turtle hatchlings will make it to adulthood.
7. Long distance swimmers
Sea turtles are incredible long distance swimmers - the longest recorded journey is a female leatherback which travelled 13,000 miles in 647 days!
8. Home is where the nest is
Female sea turtles return to the same beach they hatched on to lay their own eggs.
9. The Welsh giant
The largest recorded sea turtle was discovered dead on a beach in Wales, UK, in 1988. It was more than 2.5m long and weighed a staggering 140 stone! It died after becoming tangled in a discarded fishing line.
10. Long lives
Sea turtles have a similar lifespan to us, often living beyond 50 years of age.
11. Hot stuff
The sex of baby sea turtles is affected by the temperature of the sand the eggs are laid in. Global warming means fewer males are hatching.
12. The lost years
The early years of a sea turtle’s life are know as ‘the lost years’ as where they go and what they do during this time remains a mystery to scientists. It's also where we get our name!
To find out more, please visit our charity partner's website, www.seeturtles.org.