How long do sea turtles live? And other sea turtle facts

Sea turtles, which can live between 50 and 100 years, are facing population declines primarily due to human activities such as accidental capture in fishing gear and poaching. WWF works to mitigate these threats by promoting turtle-friendly equipment and protecting nesting beaches. The document also details sea turtle biology, including their diet, migration patterns, and the impact of climate change on hatchling sex determination.

• Sea turtles have an estimated natural lifespan of 50 to 100 years, though determining the exact age of any species is difficult. They typically take 20 to 30 years to reach maturity and remain reproductive for an additional 10 years.
• Five of the seven sea turtle species are globally classified as Vulnerable to Critically Endangered. The primary threat is accidental capture by fishing gear, followed by poaching for meat, skin, shells, and eggs.
• Climate change affects sea turtle nesting beaches and eggs, specifically influencing the sex of hatchlings because temperature determines the sex; warmer nests produce females and cooler nests produce males.
• Sea turtles are migratory animals that travel thousands of miles. For example, one female leatherback was tracked traveling over 12,000 miles round-trip across the Pacific Ocean between Indonesia and the northwest coast of the United States.

APA

WWF International (n.d.). How long do sea turtles live? And other sea turtle facts. https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/facts/how-long-do-sea-turtles-live-and-other-sea-turtle-facts/

Chicago

WWF International. How long do sea turtles live? And other sea turtle facts. n.d. https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/facts/how-long-do-sea-turtles-live-and-other-sea-turtle-facts/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=How long do sea turtles live? And other sea turtle facts |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/facts/how-long-do-sea-turtles-live-and-other-sea-turtle-facts/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternationalndhow, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{How long do sea turtles live? And other sea turtle facts}}, institution = {WWF International}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/facts/how-long-do-sea-turtles-live-and-other-sea-turtle-facts/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }