May 23 is World Turtle Day, to celebrate and protect what may be the planet’s most captivating reptiles. Here are some of the best places to see turtles in the wild – and some tips to help protect turtles and tortoises in ways their own protective hard shells can’t.

 

World Turtle Day is the brainchild of the non-profit organization American Tortoise Rescue. Tortoise is the name given to terrestrial turtles, often found in arid environments. No matter what name they go by, all the members of the turtle family, whether they live in land or water, are set apart from all other reptiles by their bone or cartilage shells, which are – fun fact – extensions of their rib cage. They have existed on earth for over 200 million years, making them older than other reptiles, including snakes, crocodiles and alligators.

 

Turtles are found around the world, from marshes to rivers to oceans, from forests to deserts. They play crucial roles in the environments where they live. Many species are endangered or worse, facing habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, being caught in fishing gear, human interference in nesting areas, and poaching for meat, shells and the pet trade. Sadly, you can even still buy souvenirs made of the shells of these delightful – but threatened – creatures.

 

Many of us dream to encounter turtles in their natural habitats in the wild during our travels. It’s a glimpse back hundreds of millions of years into primordial planet earth. Not to mention the perma-smiles on turtle faces and the irresistible appeal of their seemingly friendly gliding through the waves or stately walk on land.

These locations are known as great places to observe turtles in their natural environments. They have solid turtle populations and conscientious conservation efforts: protecting habitats particularly during nesting season, regulating fishing practices, enforcing poaching and illegal wildlife trade, reducing pollution especially marine plastic waste, and some also actively help breed and rebuild local turtle populations.  

While efforts from conservation organizations, governments, and local communities are crucial to prevent the extinction of these ancient and ecologically important reptiles, travelers have an important role to play too.

Here are tips to avoid harming turtles and their habitats when you travel: