Credit: Lindsay Lauckner Gundlock
The East Pacific hawksbill turtle is among the most endangered sea turtle populations and one of the oldest creatures on Earth. In a new ASU study spanning a 30-year period, 95% of poached sea turtles came from two species — green and hawksbill turtles — both of which are listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Also, Southeast Asia and Madagascar emerged as major hotspots for illegal sea turtle take and trade, particularly for critically endangered hawksbills, which are prized in the illicit wildlife trade for their beautiful shells.