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Celebrate World Turtle Day With 15 Photographs of the Delightful Reptiles

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6 months ago

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May 23, 2024

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Celebrate World Turtle Day With 15 Photographs of the Delightful Reptiles

Photographs selected by Quentin Nardi

Text by

Tracy Scott Forson

Started by the American Tortoise Rescue, the first World Turtle Day was observed on May 23, 2000. For more than 30 years, the organization has helped rehome turtles and tortoises, animals that inhabit every continent—except Antarctica—with the United States boasting the greatest number of turtle species.

From small spotted turtles that practically fit in your hand to the giant tortoises of the Galápagos Islands, turtles have been fascinating us for eons. The green sea turtle, for example, has been around for 100 million years and plays an important part in maintaining our oceans. That’s just one reason to celebrate turtles this World Turtle Day.

A newborn olive ridley sea turtle emerges from its egg. Buried by a parent more than a month ago, the turtle will find its way to the sea.

Saurabh Chakraborty, India, 2018

Two turtles keep it cozy — Two turtles keep it cozy, seemingly sleeping, on a log partly submerged in peaceful waters.

Gina Gomez, New York, 2013

The Pacific — Sunlight pierces the surface of the sea, offering a glimpse at life in the beautiful waters of the Pacific.

Christopher Doherty, Hawaii, 2013

Olive ridley sea turtles return to the ocean — After burying their eggs in the sand, olive ridley sea turtles return to the ocean, leaving behind their eggs, which normally hatch in 40 and 60 days.

Kallol Mukherjee, India, 2023

Early Morning Sunlight — A green sea turtle swims nearby a local reef in Deerfield Beach as rays of early morning sun light his way.

Max Blakesberg, Florida, 2022

A smaller turtle climbs on the back of a larger one — A smaller turtle climbs on the back of a larger one to get a better view of things at Allegany State Park.

Justine Smith, New York, 2021

Two sea turtles exchange a kiss — Two sea turtles exchange a kiss in an apparent public display of affection.

Giacomo d’Orlando, Thailand, 2022

Galápagos giant tortoises — Thanks to successful conservation efforts, Galápagos giant tortoises still roam the Galápagos archipelago and are easy for visitors to find.

Tom Shlesinger, Ecuador, 2021

A green sea turtle — A green sea turtle, thought to be one of the few turtle species that nest on the Galápagos islands, rests on colorful volcanic rock.

Tom Shlesinger, Ecuador, 2021

Turtle & Fish — Remora fish are known to remove parasites found on turtles and clean them by ingesting scraps of food, feces and plankton on their host. Remoras benefit by using the larger creatures as transport and protection.

Thien Nguyen Ngoc, Malaysia, 2022

Two leatherback sea turtle hatchlings — Two leatherback sea turtle hatchlings team up for their journey to the ocean.

Ben Hicks, Florida, 2015

A turtle comes up for air — A turtle comes up for air. Although they can hold their breath for long periods of time, they cannot breathe underwater.

Tom Shlesinger, Florida, 2021

Tortoise — The Tanganyika Wildlife Park is home to this tortoise and about 400 other animals.

David Kiger, Kansas, 2019

Buffet of vegetation. — Green sea turtles enjoy the waters of the Galápagos and its buffet of vegetation.

Terry Goss, Ecuador, 2012

6 Turtles — Six turtles bask on a fallen log in Dhaka as lake waters mirror their images.

Sultan Mohammed Asif Hossain, Bangladesh, 2022

Related Topics:animals Nature Photography Oceans Reptiles Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries Turtles

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