Wildlife Nation Exclusive Clip: A Celebration of the Endangered Species Act Join host Jeff Corwin for a celebration of the Endangered Species Act by connecting with a few of the amazing species that have benefitted from the landmark legislation. To learn more about the
Join host Jeff Corwin for a celebration of the Endangered Species Act by connecting with a few of the amazing species that have benefitted from the landmark legislation. To learn more about the wildlife featured in the episode, visit www.defenders.org/wildlifenation
Video Transcript:
Jeff Corwin:
The United States is home to some of the most spectacular landscapes and diverse wildlife on earth, and there's no better example than an iconic bird that's loved and admired from sea to shining sea. Â
Now that my friends is a powerful stare. For me, the bald eagle is not only a powerful symbol of the United States, but it is an incredible example of environmental stewardship, conservation, and the importance of the Endangered Species Act. Amazingly, not so long ago, this mighty bird species was pushed to the brink of extinction. But today, it is recovered and it is thriving because we all came together and we protected this amazing symbol of the United States.
Jeff Corwin:
The modern American environmental movement began in 1973 with the passage of landmark legislation called the Endangered Species Act. This crucial bipartisan law empowered our government to protect and manage vulnerable plants and animals, as well as the ecosystems upon which they depend. The Endangered Species Act has saved dozens of other threatened species from the brink of extinction, including one of my favorites, sea turtles.
Today, we're exploring the beautiful beaches of Boca Raton, Florida, where several different sea turtle species make their nests.
Jeff Corwin:
This is Elizabeth Fleming, she works with Defenders of Wildlife. Her backyard is Florida. Her mission is Florida. This is David Anderson, and you're the sea turtle coordinator for Gumbo Limbo.
David Anderson:
Yes, I am the conservation coordinator for our five miles of beach in Boca Raton.
Jeff Corwin:
Awesome. Elizabeth, why are beaches like this critical to the survival of sea turtles?
Elizabeth Fleming:
Well, Florida is globally important for sea turtles. We have the largest nesting aggregations for loggerhead turtles in the entire world.
Jeff Corwin:
That's kind of amazing.
Elizabeth Fleming:
It's kind of amazing.
Jeff Corwin:
David, I think what's so special about Boca Raton is that a few decades ago, people had a sense of foresight.
David Anderson:
They had foresight to establish parks - beachfront parks in about half of all of Boca Raton's shoreline.
Jeff Corwin:
We've got a sea turtle nest right here. What species do you think?
David Anderson:
This is a loggerhead nest. This nest hatched three days ago, so now we are ready to excavate it and inventory its contents.
Jeff Corwin:
Awesome. Shall we start?
David Anderson:
Yes, we can start. Basically just start digging straight down, separate all the hatched shells. Elizabeth, can you help me sort.
Elizabeth Fleming:
I can.
Jeff Corwin:
Typically, how many stragglers would you find?
David Anderson:
I would say about half of the time we excavate nests, we find a live hatchling or two or sometimes three or four.
Elizabeth Fleming:
So they lay a lot of eggs and numbers are on their side to help them survive.
Jeff Corwin:
What's really promising is we're seeing a lot of empty shells.
David Anderson:
Right.
Jeff Corwin:
Which means, a lot of them got out alive.
David Anderson:
That's right.
Elizabeth Fleming:
One in 10,000 actually survive to become an adult and breed. The thing is if we just protect their habitat, they will do the rest.
Jeff Corwin:
They're indicator species.
Elizabeth Fleming:
Absolutely.
Jeff Corwin:
They're keystone species.
Elizabeth Fleming:
They are.
Jeff Corwin:
They're critical to the environment.
They're a part of human culture.
Elizabeth Fleming:
They are.
Jeff Corwin:
It would be a sad world without them.
Elizabeth Fleming:
It sure would.
Jeff Corwin:
Oh, and it would be a sad world-
Elizabeth Fleming:
Did you find one?
David Anderson:
Look at there.
Jeff Corwin:
Look at that.
Elizabeth Fleming:
Look at that.
Jeff Corwin:
And it would be a sad world without this, and this is why this is so important. Because every sea turtle matters. This little straggler, buried deep in the nest, it's been liberated. In a little bit.
David Anderson:
Yep.
Jeff Corwin:
It's going home.
Jeff Corwin:
Of the seven sea turtle species roaming the oceans of our world, six of them make their nests on the beaches of America and all of them are listed as protected animals, under the Endangered Species Act.
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