Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), or honu ‘ea, are critically endangered throughout the world. While less than 20 individuals are observed nesting each year on Hawai‘i Island, they account for about 90% of documented nesting in the entire state.
National park volunteers are instrumental in protecting this keystone species from numerous threats. In the U.S. Pacific, hawksbill turtles nest only on the beaches of the main Hawaiian Islands, primarily along the southern coast of Hawai‘i, the Big Island. Without human help, the honu ‘ea will likely disappear forever this century. But there is hope. Since 1989, the Hawai‘i Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project, based at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, has been tirelessly working to help honu ‘ea recover. More than 500 volunteers have located and protected 700 nests and helped 80,000 hatchlings reach the sea. Your donation would provide critical assistance to this project.
Donate:
http://fhvnp.org/shop/turtle-donation/
Learn more:
http://www.nps.gov/havo/naturescience/turtles.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawksbill_sea_turtle