The survival of the sea turtle

Watch the miraculous journey of infant sea turtles as these tiny animals run the gauntlet of predators and harsh conditions. Then, in numbers, see how human behavior has made their tough lives even more challenging.
Lesson by Scott Gass, animation by Veronica Wallenberg and Johan Sonestedt.
View the full lesson at: ed.ted.com/less...

[@thatrandomgirl.2675]

So basicly this many turtles hatch:🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢And this many survive long enough to lay eggs: 🐢🐢

[@thatrandomgirl.2675]

That is sad.

[@alixiria]

sadly that is a real accurate comment

[@abrokenquestionabrokenansw7979]

(╯°□°)╯︵ I'm very triggered at ppl killing these poor creatures..

[@savagerandy8244]

Sadly it's not, human intervention has actually caused thousands of more sea turtles to survive each season then previously mentioned. This is a video that is 6 years old and is not entirely accurate. Human intervention across the globe is responsible for hundreds of thousands of sea turtles making it to sea. In this video he tells you off the bat that only 50% make it, that's not true. Thanks to humans 99.9% of them make it. The occasional sick turtle doesn't have enough strength to march 100 yards to the sea, from where the humans let them go from. While humans living on the planet have caused pollution and it's a very real thing, we've also taken the steps insure millions of sea turtles survive every decade.

[@tofugoreng23]

Amanda Scovill humans are interesting living beings, we ruin environment, but we also help it. Sometimes i want everyone to be dead, sometimes i want them to live. I have mixed feelings about humans.

[@ritadeleon5279]

This video brought tears to my eyes. I recently started a carreer in turtle conservation biology, and it breaks my heart every time I hear about the 1% survival rate. It's what gives me strength to do my job right.

[@thomasthedankengine5855]

Does it really or are you buttershy from my little ponies 🤣 but really it is a shame. So much for complaining about nuclear power!💀🤣

[@dannyboyrefugioct2627]

How did you get a job like that we’re did you start? I want to do just that but don’t know where to start

[@ShaudaySmith]

This animator made some damn cute turtles.

[@Account13283]

All sea turtles are cute

[@ShaudaySmith]

true!

[@dracom3353]

they babies Are cute :O

[@kittenlover-yk5hx]

And then he killed them.

[@DenBrunaSvenskan]

We will only be left with those animations if human actions continue to kill them

[@ostrich3335]

The last line full on made me tear up a little. I’ve been to a sea turtle release in Thailand and we released juvenile turtles which were raised in captivity into the ocean for the first time. This brings back memories. I also scuba dived with turtles, and I’ve spent time just floating in the water watching them, and seeing them watching me back. They really are a miracle.

[@official-obama]

If they were _raised_ in captivity and were taken before they learned to survive by themselves then that hurts them

[@Malxer]

I have to admit I cried too.

[@Angela-ou5wb]

THAT TURTLE IS SO CUTE I WANT TO HUG IT SO BADLY

[@ragna343]

Angela Zheng Then go buy a pet turtle

[@logiclock9483]

I was thinking the same thing, what a cute turtle

[@prestonang8216]

Make sure u don’t squish them...

[@Lumberjack_king]

@@Matchyan real ones still look cute

[@Lumberjack_king]

Most turtles are cute except for snapping turtles there demons jk

[@akshatpatel8060]

2 out of 1000 sea turtles survive to lay eggs:( 2 OUT OF A THOUSAND!?!!? humanity you have amazed me again(in a bad way).

[@ambiwhats2030]

Akshat Patel yes I agree with you but, we can't do anything about the crabs, birds, and other animal predictors

[@DavidSmith-eh7rs]

Actually, in some places like Malaysia and Nicaragua I have seen sea turtle sanctuaries where the eggs are gathered and incubated in a protected environment that's kept at an ideal temperature. Then after hatching the turtles are either released directly into the sea (avoiding at least the first line of predators) or given a chance to grow before being released. That said, protecting the natural environment is obviously an absolutely crucial step to take as well!

[@xcrazypopprincess]

Yes, but sadly, in Malaysia there are people who sell and eat the eggs as well. It's illegal but not much is done about enforcing it and it's marketed as a delicacy. Makes me feel so sad because one person can eat up to 10 or more eggs. It's not incredibly common but you will see it happen every once in a while. Turtles are so endangered and you see people buy like 30 eggs and bring them home. Breaks my heart.

[@alixiria]

those are natural but humans are in all ways disturbing the natural process

[@juliettepanganiban7787]

Akshat Patel nope 2 in 100 or 50

[@T50N6]

So basically seeing a turtle is seeing a miracle. Miracles do exist!

[@akiraaidenpadilla3598]

Dont you mean *Seaing* No okay I will go

[@katherinebrennan231]

This video was very helpful to my 3rd-grade son who is doing a project on the life cycle of Sea Turtles. Thanks!

[@tanariondancy2892]

katherine brennan By helpful you mean it gave him almost everything he needed 😂

[@divat10]

@@tanariondancy2892 4-2-0 years

[@crazytigerspy9420]

How’s he doing now

[@Vodka6329]

@@tanariondancy2892 Yep, basically.

[@hollyvanderpump5338]

me reading this and being in 7th grade

[@RickyMon]

Amazing... Now I will see turtles entirely diifferent...

[@imalittlejuicebox7367]

No you will sea turtles differently

[@turtlefeesh]

@@imalittlejuicebox7367 What a missed opportunity

[@heretical_cuttlefish]

I love that you were able to take a situation so terrible and paint it in a way that brings hope

[@stilljust-me2795]

Sea turtles are my spirit animals.... Poor things :(

[@ColWilBald]

Mine too

[@HarisEka]

okay, i lost count how many time i changed mine, but i have a feeling that this time this is it.

[@matthewnour97]

Me too!

[@akiraaidenpadilla3598]

@@HarisEka how bout now

[@HarisEka]

@@akiraaidenpadilla3598 Clouded leopard 😅

[@motunuii]

This is why we don't throw trash in the Oceon

[@motunuii]

John Martin Thanks for being 3 years late 🥰🥰

[@movedaccounts8572]

@John Martin go ahead... Destroy the suffering earth

[@丁日光]

Was Grammarly a thing 7 years ago?

[@lucaslayton3974]

You know what's a real miracle? That humans haven't blown up Earth yet. I'm still waiting for the day.

[@Nek4uba]

Thank North Korea

[@ktos4366]

2020

[@Lumberjack_king]

It's going to be relatively slow and painful.

[@sasukeismine6945]

I’m hoping I don’t live till then 🙃

[@dandansfu]

It won’t coz the rich and powerful need you and I to serve them

[@Angela-ou5wb]

HOW DARE YOU PEOPLE KILL THESE ADORABLE TURTLES

[@noahstone5649]

+Angela Zheng So, it's ok for you to eat any other animal? I'm assuming you're not a vegan.

[@inquaanate2393]

+Angela Zheng your using a computer, using electricity, from [most likely] a fossil fuel power plant, fossil fuel=oil spill = you are killing the turtles. Now try to live with yourself as i remind you that you are consciously breathing and blinking and that fact right now that your toes are touching is really really annoying.

[@lordcripplus5046]

***** ye faq off ye beitch

[@lordcripplus5046]

***** i dont give a shit

[@inquaanate2393]

TheWildGamer If you think your edgy... you're really not. You sound like a 12 year old... who plays cod.

[@BallerinaValkyrie]

I love everything about this video! The animation, the information, the narration, all of it!

[@worldwidewanchi]

Hoping with all my heart and soul that these gorgeous creatures will keep surviving... Was so lucky to see one during my last scuba diving trip. They may not become extinct!

[@astrawboory]

The idea of human interference putting all 8 turtle species into threatened or endangered areas is one of the many reasons my dream job is in marine biology. I want to be able to help the turtles and allow their numbers to rise again.

[@firenzarfrenzy4985]

All life birthed is a miracle. Turtles surviving is another tier of miracle

[@plantling7197]

Luckily people have started amazing conservation efforts to help the young hatching turtles escape to the ocean to at least up the chances

Wonderful, dinamic resume of sea turtles life. Much better than those cartoons teaching that baby turtle will find their mom and dad when they go back to the ocean. Gongrats for your work!

[@tigervlogs4388]

Never kill sea turtles or I will sue you

[@PhiNguyen-or7pz]

TigerVlogs how old r u child you can't see someone on the sake of someone or something else

[@palmtree2401]

At least TigerVlogs has better grammar. I presume you meant sue not see.

[@official-obama]

If you see someone sell their eggs, dropkick them in the throat.

[@seamorington2760]

Sea turtles surviving being known as a miracle is one of the saddest yet beautiful things I’ve heard.

[@ToPocHiTaNJon]

The sea turtles are so very cute!

[@JamesFrancis]

Fantastic. One of the best yet.

[@0901강민재]

수많은 장애물을 극복해낸 바다거북들을 존경합니다. 저도 내 힘듬을 극복할 힘이나는 것같습니다. 좋은 쉬는 쉬간이 된것 같습니다. 지구 오염이 거북이, 새물들에게 미치는 나쁜 영향이 위험하다는 것을 배웠습니다. 좋은 영상 감사합니다.

[@chinmayjoshi3592]

to those cursing humanity... you are a part of it. how you live with that, may be the second biggest miracle.

[@MightyButter]

i saw people on beach on hawaii standing and drinking on a turtle... When i got out of the hotel i was staying at, it was dead :( it was shuper sad

[@galiamorales6105]

PigsAhoy Well, if I ever see someone hurting a turtle at the beach, I'll definitely call the police

[@pucamisc]

PigsAhoy that is definitely illegal, touching a sea turtle is fined by up to about $25,000 and if they killed it then that's another crime....if you see something like that again, report it!

[@eanchiang9539]

U SHOULD DO

[@duonglinh9833]

And you said nothing?

[@0x1EGEN]

PigsAhoy ...You're implying that you didn't do anything to save that turtle when given the opportunity. You literally could've saved the turtle when you had the chance, so why didn't you??? "I just saw a turtle dying, and hours after watching it, it died. It was shuuper sad ;(((("

[@mrose8748]

I just said "wow that's amazing" when it was done

[@ostrich3335]

I remember scuba diving with turtles and doing a sea turtle release. Most enchanting moments of my life.

[@official-obama]

Did you do buy and release? That hurts them.

[@akiraaidenpadilla3598]

@@official-obama they probably made a sort of similar environment before releasing them where the turtles in that environment dont die

[@Kumo_Black]

Damn they earned being able to live 300 years

[@grim_reaper_2151]

You’re thinking of a tortoise, not a turtle

[@starcherry6814]

Is there anyway that I can help?

[@hanalee894]

hi! generally, try to recycle as much as you can and be sparing with water and energy. you could also research in to the fishing industry, and where you source your fish. a lot of large corporations are responsible for the capture of sea turtles, and other marine creatures such as dolphins, in their fishing nets. they often just leave the animals there to die because cutting open the net would be too expensive. make sure that if you're buying animal agriculture products, they're from smaller, more local sources. alternatively, you could try reducing/eliminating meat and fish intake (although i know this is not possible for everyone's situation) hope this helps! :)

[@nurdandogan]

Melisa

[@iTzNikkitty]

Use as little plastic as you can, and try to recycle what you do use, or at least dispose of it in a way where it would not reach the ocean. You may have seen the horrible things that a simple straw can do to a sea turtle, and plastic bags can often be mistaken for jellyfish, which many sea turtles will eat, especially leatherbacks. You could also possibly find ways to donate to conservation groups that help protect sea turtle nesting sites and ensure that as many babies as possible make it to the ocean.

[@saraswinerton7202]

Star Cherry yes if you go to the beach leave it as you found it

[@rowaaaa]

Tovarish Ted and birds

[@GutiTheJ]

This video just gives you those feelings...

[@Narsuaq]

Well done. I'll go inform everyone I know of your amazing achievement.

[@turtlelover0428]

This is exactly why you should keep the beaches and oceans clean to protect these species along with other species

[@obsidianscale5380]

That was sooooo beautiful, I cried!:')

[@allthingswildlifeyt1218]

Im glad i live on the ningaloo reef Australia. place where you can fortunately see these beautiful creatures. When i start up my channel. My second video will be on the green sea turtle.

[@charusahu5961]

oh poor turtles.... :(

[@MonicaFatogun]

This is insightful thank you

[@jakeh2859]

really god video. was a real eye opener!

[@kirbydreamland_]

This breaks ma heart and now I will go cry for an hour

[@starstudios653]

Oh and I love the animating

[@Fokeno]

The point of it all? To survive, achieve, fulfill ourselves. Does that matter? You brought the point up that we ruin everything, I say we contribute just as much.

[@nataliepak2973]

This animation is the best!

[@oakenshadow6763]

2 out of 1000. That is something both to make you cry your eyes out and scream with rage.

[@JoleneGov]

The animation is so cute

[@originalYTchannel]

makes you realise how amazing these turtles are

[@kamrynalexis3]

I love sea turtles...this made me cry a little...

[@Lemonnater]

Why is it that all the cool things are endangered? Turtles are cute, intelligent, live to incredible ages and apparently taste really good.

[@hi.241]

Turtle: live for like what 150 millions years I guess and is here still to dis day Straws: *imma end this man's whole career* I commented this before looking in the comment section.... So I don't steel

[@FrozenMulletConquest]

You will go down in history for this im sure !!

[@rodneydrewart8280]

Great video. Hopefully we humans will find a way to use our brilliance to create a lifestyle that has zero impact on the environment. #rodneydrewart We need to create a movement so powerful that the world leaders realise we want a different lifestyle that is not commercial but environmental.

[@reagandees8825]

Why dont u do that? Why havent we done that? I can answer both of those questions. Its because we dont have the will or the power.

[@codyshi4743]

Also while the baby sea turtles weren't hatched yet sometimes raccoon or other animal will dig up their best and eat the egg.

[@angelaa6371]

Beautiful

[@MP-me7tc]

i love TED-Ed it helps me alot with the animations. I stay interested

[@na9338]

What about humans helping protect turtle eggs going to the beach

[@thunderplunder1013]

Yolo 04 yeah that sounds really nice

[@ragna343]

Yolo 04 Hpw can we see turtle eggs we will accidently just step on he eggs

[@Banzybanz]

The eggs are buried and safe. But if there is illegal egg stealing going on, we should report to the authorities.

[@hayscollins5867]

Honestly with the increased help of many people to help get these baby’s safely into the water I think in twenty years the population will rise

[@Reqex]

This is the saddest miracle I've ever heard about...

[@unodostres1391]

Turtles:have a hard life Michael reeves:I’m gonna stick straws in there noses

[@yaboidragonite4227]

I know right :(

[@blitzhope]

Oh wow , the animation is really relaxing to the eyes!!!

[@thescholarlywalrus1138]

Wonderous animation.

[@DJFlare84]

2:54 - Oh god IT'S THAT F***ING UNDERWATER LEVEL FROM TMNT ON THE NES ALL OVER AGAIN How the sea-turtles don't just ragequit here is beyond amazing.

[@sharifahadzkia4709]

Wow I got a goosebump for the last part of the video Nice video 🐢

[@cherylhickford2799]

You made me cry😥

[@kyesol]

I remember going on a submarine ride and seeing 2-3 turtles a couple hundred feet below the surface near a shipwreck. They stared at us and swam away.

[@theyobita]

I think turtle is the most adorable animal

[@choiyeonjun655]

I LOVE SEA TURTLEEEES

[@G33K177]

The end made me shed a tear wtf?

[@rajnielmaharaj7106]

TURTLES ARE MY MOST FAVOURITE ANIMAL

[@rinrennee]

The animation is excellent!

[@Hurricane_0313]

you guys knew it would be a nice day when your teacher pulled up this video

[@lolec7741]

Sad that we are making the life of these turtles more difficult than their life's are

[@EnbyTech]

2:29 = TTAA And the occasional killer whale! *(no big deal, none at AlL)*

[@niker-e1e]

Sea turtles have survived through evolution from prehistoric times to the present day, with only 20% of their eggs surviving, but their survival is threatened by human pollution.

[@Rey-mx8kp]

Fun Fact ; Sea turtles face their shell towards the predator so if it were to charge it would slam its face onto the shell and while the predator is dazed they swim as fast as they can.

[@sulffojus1227]

AAHH WHY DO HUMANS HAVE TO RUIN EVERYTHING D:>

[@katielui131]

pretty much sums up human life -- some are born dead some are born alive, some die from the hardships of life, we trade one sets of hardships for another in different stages of life, etc etc. Then it follows that we just have to choose a way to live life: either move forward, or see where fate brings us, or in reality, a bit of both.

[@M0CC3R]

This made me cry

[@NickLopes105]

With great size comes great protection

[@lenama1234567890]

I know, I wish more humans should respect other creatures, people, and the earth more than they do now :(

[@natasharamos8788]

Thank you for sharing that I have learnt so much👍

[@DangerWrap]

I feel glad that my country has Sea turtle conservation centre by Navy.

[@rabbit0664]

Poor turtles. So many things blown and stacked up against them.

[@cutelycute493]

It’s sad that turtles never get to meet their mother.

[@animationsbloggen]

I'm being ironic. What I mean is that instead of just spreading pessimism and do nothing, one should do what one can to make the planet a little better. If the opportunity occurs that you can protect a beach from devastation, or the small thing of choosing fair trade coffe instead of the regular one, one shouldn't skip that because the bigger issues isn't solved, cause those are a part of the bigger picture.

[@enmedallo]

Great story, great topic, great TED. Thanks.

[@beemlp3262]

everyone is suffering and few people are doing anything we are interfering with their life cycle they aren't prepared for all the changes we've made

[@Skeluz]

Snyggt jobbat Veronica.

[@trollonainternet3269]

4:11 what I find a miracle is humans being so incredibly selfish that they are not dead.

[@zdenek3010]

Turtles haven't survived through challenges of eons. They've been living during only phanerozoic eon.

[@XxKittyLizzyxX]

You know, prior to summer school work, these are the only videos I'll watch that are educational. :P.......oh and, I SEA why everyone likes turtles. ;)

[@Snaut1]

Aww. :( We need to raise awareness and protect the turtles! Who's with me?? :D

[@FirstLastth]

Where do we start?

[@Snaut1]

Thanks for finding a comment I made when I was 13.

[@Ragnarockalypse]

Sure. Survival percentage can be both higher and lower. That is how mean and median values work.

[@LeprosuGnome]

We can notice that this is a really old animal and survived only due to chance, take rabbits for instances, the difference in survival efficiency is extreme...

[@jeffreythedinosaur9686]

There are so little sea turtles What would be the negative effects of them completely being removed

[@syabilaazri7834]

Why people in Malaysia forgot that Turtle come to our country that they cover the sand with rock and dig hole at the beach....

[@kace7590]

2012:nahhhh 2013:nahhhhh 2014:nahhhhhh 2015:nahhhhhhh 2016:nahhhhhhhh 2017:nahhhhhhhhh 2018:nahhhhhhhhhh 2019:yassssssssssss let's recommend this 😂

[@rdelwic]

In a STABLE population, exactly TWO offspring will survive and successfully reproduce. Presumably before the extinction event of human civilization (the Holocene extinction) the population was stable. With declining numbers of sea turtles, we can conclude that on average far fewer that 2 sea turtle eggs from a single clutch will survive. Life is a struggle - and we are making it even tougher for them.

[@JakeJohnRogers]

I would say that the human being was the first 'thinking animal', now just hear me on this: while we are closely related to chimps and other such things, we are perhaps the most intellectual species known on our planet. When we first were around, in our little tribes of humans, I imagine that we died...a lot. But when we found ways of survival, we could actually teach them to our children. So weapons, fires, hunting routines, times to pick fruits became learnt throughout generations.

[@Littleshortazngirl]