Today is World Turtle Day, raising awareness, increasing knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encouraging human action to help them survive and thrive.

Turtle Day is celebrated worldwide in a variety of ways, from dressing up as turtles to saving turtles caught on highways, to research activities.

In Costa Rica authorities are using the day with a special appeal to prevent overfishing and implement a tougher stand against those who violate the laws of preservation.

Turtle species that today are in danger of extinction are the “lora” (ridley) and the “baula” (leatherback) and the “verde” (green) and the “carey” (hawksbill), due to impacts such as global warming but also because of poor fishing practices.