Sea Turtle by Morgan Riggs

It's hard to think of a more tranquil, care free marine animal than the turtle. Seemingly care free as they glide the ocean, graze on coral or simply sit and hangout in all manner of positions. Bunaken Marine Park in North Sulawesi is home to an insane amount of these peaceful ocean dwellers, the majority being Green and Hawksbill.

Green and Hawksbill turtles! Green turtles are the ocean’s chill gardeners, grazing on seagrass and algae (which actually gives their fat a greenish tint — fun fact!). These gentle giants can weigh up to 180 kg and migrate thousands of kilometers to return to the same beaches where they were born. Hawksbill turtles, on the other hand, are the coral reef acrobats — with their sharp, bird-like beaks, they nibble on sponges hidden in coral crevices, helping keep reefs healthy and balanced. Their beautifully patterned shells once made them targets for trade, leaving them critically endangered today. Both species have been gliding through our oceans for over 100 million years, long before the dinosaurs vanished — true survivors of time! ???? Let’s protect their beaches, reefs, and seas so these incredible creatures can keep swimming strong. ????✨

Video by Morgan Riggs @InfinitelyOcean

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