Updated 02 March 2002, 12.07

 Check the guide to endangered animals

They are to work together to learn more about our hard-shelled friends and come up with a new UK Turtle Code to protect them.

Satellite tracking

			Fact File
	Turtles in the UK
		7 main species of turtles
		5 species visit the UK: 1 leatherback 2 loggerhead 3 Kemp's ridley 4 hawksbill 5 green turtle
		The leatherback is most common visitor
		Plastic litter's biggest threat to turtles
		About five accidents with fishing nets reported a year
		Experts think there are many more than that

Visiting turtles often die accidentally, from swallowing litter and getting tangled in fishing nets.

The new code will show fishermen how to rescue turtles caught up in nets.

And special electronic beacons will be fitted on the turtles to track their movements with satellites.

Rare leatherback

Fishermen are keen to help. They especially want to protect our most common, but endangered visitor, the leatherback turtle.

It's thought there are only 26,000 nesting female leatherbacks in the world.

And their numbers are falling because of too much litter. They are also hunted for their skin and precious shells.

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More Info

Guide to endangered animals

Endangered animals quiz

Past Stories
	Endangered turtle spotted in Scotland
	Sea turtles find their way with compass