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Curadio
17 Feb 25 5 min read
My cousin and I often bond over our mutual passion for rescuing and caring for animals. When I visited him the other day, a peculiar sight greeted me. My cousin sat beside a big glass tank filled with water, lovingly gazing at a small creature.
Getting closer to the tank to inspect firsthand what held his attention, I screamed…“A Tortoise!”
However, my cousin was quick to explain that the reptile I was looking at was not a tortoise, but a turtle.
I never knew tortoises and turtles were not the same creatures. What a surprise!
Later, we discussed the differences between the two over a cup of hot chai, and here’s what I learned from my cousin.
Differences Between Tortoise and Turtle
| Tortoises | Turtles |
| Live on land, mostly found in deserts and forests. | Live in water bodies such as seas and rivers. |
| Heavy dome-shaped shell, keeps them safe from predators and other dangers. | Flat and smooth shell, designed to cut through water easily. |
| Strong limbs, especially their hind legs, support the heavy shell. | Flippers or webbed feet (like ducks and otters) help them to swim better. |
| They are herbivores. | The diet changes according to the species, mostly omnivores. |
The Hatchling’s Story
So, what led this hatchling away from its home and family? Well, your guess is as good as mine!
December is the nesting season for the turtles and our area is closer to the beach. I guess this hatchling, attracted by the bright lights on the beach, got lost and could not make it to the ocean.
Thankfully, my cousin came across this little guy before anything could harm it and brought it home.
Keeping the Turtle Baby Safe
After some time, we took the little one to the local conservation centre where my cousin volunteers on weekends. At the centre, I learned that the specimen swimming in my cousin’s tank was an offspring of the Olive Ridley species.
An Endangered Species
Talking with an expert at the centre, I found many turtle species fall into the vulnerable or endangered list. Their numbers are on a steady decline because of:
Ah! It is super tough for these hard-shelled guys to survive out there unless things change.
Efforts to Save the Turtles
Several conservation projects are adopting measures to boost the dwindling population of the turtles.
Check out work done by organizations such as:
We also recommend Nat Geo Animal’s video Surviving Sea Turtles and Curadio’s audio story “Why Are Turtles the Coolest Reptiles?”
Your Help Matters
What can you do to help with the ongoing conservation efforts for these magnificent marine animals?
Start by participating in awareness campaigns in your city. Display some fun and informative posters in your school. Request your teacher to keep a special assembly session where you can talk about these wild marine creatures.
Connect with us via email and let us know how you plan to carry out conservation efforts on your end.
That’s Not All!
Curadio offers a large collection of audio stories in multiple categories for curious minds. Browse through the list of audio stories on our website and listen to these stories anywhere, anytime.
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