About 15,000 females are estimated to nest each year throughout the world with the Caribbean accounting for 20 to 30 percent of the world’s hawksbill … The eggs will remain … Juvenile hawksbills, and other marine turtles, are often collected and stuffed for sale as tourist curios. Turtles leave the sea to lay their eggs on the beach. Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) – Between 20,000 and 23,000 nesting females remain January 27, 2018 Most Endangered 2,938 Views Hawksbill turtles are threatened by loss of habitat, climate change, and the collection of their eggs for consumption. It’s difficult to know precisely how many Hawksbill Turtles exist because but research suggests that there are only 5 populations world-wide, made up of around 8,000 turtles in total, and with only 1,000 females nesting annually. Sea turtles need to reach the surface to breathe, and therefore many drown once caught. There are 5 features that distinguish hawksbill sea turtles from other sea turtles. As far back as the fifth century BC, sea turtles, including the hawksbill, were eaten as delicacies in China . Approximately 42,000 threatened sea turtles are killed around the world each year -- and that's counting only the ones captured legally, according to a new study … Egg exploitation is prevalent in many parts of the world, but it is especially pervasive in Southeast Asia where a culture of eating sea turtle eggs is well-established, with collection often approaching 100%. … Today, loss of coral reef habitat around the world is the primary threat to hawksbill turtles. Sea turtle populations are based on estimations of how many nesting females there are, as scientists … On a global scale, threats to hawksbills vary by region. Despite their current protection under CITES and many national laws, there is still a disturbingly large amount of illegal trade in hawksbill shells and products. Hawksbills are particularly susceptible to entanglement in gillnets and accidental capture on fishing hooks. As of 2015, the Kemp's ridley sea turtle is the most endangered with only around 1,000 nesting females left. In some parts of the world, hawksbill sea turtles are eaten as a delicacy. Hawksbill turtles are found throughout the tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Accurate population data does not exist for loggerheads, hawkbills, flatbacks, olive ridleys, green sea turtles and black sea turtles. In some parts of the world, hawksbill sea turtles are eaten as a delicacy. There are two sets of prefrontal scales on their heads, they have two claws on their forelimbs, their shells have thick, overlapping plates on the back, and four pairs underneath, and the shape of their mouths is different. Although many … By most estimates, approximately 20,000 female hawksbill turtles are left in the world. They are considered endangered, according to National Geographic. They are known as travellers and move long distances from their feeding sites to nesting grounds – nesting on beaches in at least 60 countries. Like other sea turtles, hawksbills are threatened by the loss of nesting and feeding habitats, excessive egg collection, fishery-related mortality, pollution, and coastal development. Hawksbill turtles can be found swimming throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Their diet consists mainly of sponges that live on coral reefs. Known as bycatch, this is a serious threat to hawksbill turtles. Hawksbill turtle hooked on a longline. Hawksbills are particularly susceptible to entanglement in gillnets and accidental capture on fishing hooks. Throughout the world, hawksbill sea turtles are taken by humans, though it is illegal to hunt them in many countries. They will choose a spot, dig a hole, lay their eggs, cover them up and return to the sea leaving their eggs behind. In 2007, about 21,212 to 28,138 hawksbills were estimated to nest each year at 83 nesting sites distributed among 10 ocean regions around the world. Throughout the world, hawksbill sea turtles are taken by humans, though it is illegal to hunt them in many countries. Males have brighter pigmentation, a concave chest area, a thicker tail and long claws. As far back as the fifth century BC, sea turtles, including the hawksbill, were eaten as delicacies in China .