Cayman Islands | 1992 | Dollar | Green Turtle

 





Green Turtle




The term "Green Turtle" in the Cayman Islands primarily refers to the Cayman Turtle Centre, a conservation and tourist attraction focused on the green sea turtle. The islands have a long, complex history with green sea turtles, which were once a vital food source and are now a national symbol but were driven to near extinction. Today, the Cayman Turtle Centre plays a critical role in conservation efforts through captive breeding, education, and community programs, and the species is showing signs of recovery in the wild. 

The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), the only species in its genus, is a large marine turtle found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. Named for the green fat beneath its shell, it has an olive to black carapace and paddle-like flippers. Unlike most sea turtles, adults are primarily herbivorous, feeding mainly on seagrasses in shallow lagoons. Green turtles migrate long distances between feeding and nesting sites; females lay eggs on sandy beaches at night, and those that survive to adulthood may live up to 90 years. Formerly listed as endangered, the species is legally protected in most countries, yet continues to face threats from hunting, pollution, fishing bycatch, and coastal development that destroys nesting habitat.


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