Sad fate of a turtle that has died as a result of ingesting rubbish.All of us have a got a chance to do something for a turtle today to help celebrate World Turtle Day.

Just like the winner of Taronga’s first Green Grant, the Take 3 Initiative, the easiest thing we can do  is pick-up three bits of rubbish from a street or a beach to stop all this mess getting into our water.

A floating plastic bag looks like a jellyfish to a sea turtle but if they eat it, the result is fatal.

There are six species of sea turtles in the world and all of them are endangered.

Australian waters are home to five of the six species including Hawksbill, Green and Loggerhead Turtles which our Wildlife Hospital veterinarians and nurses often get called on to help.

Sadly, these majestic turtles which can grow over two metres long and weigh hundreds of kilos, often arrive with their stomachs full of plastic.

All of this plastic comes from us humans. It doesn’t break down and a lot of it is finishing up in a giant whirl of currents in the North Pacific called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

It’s already bigger than the Northern Territory.

Yet, we can stop it getting bigger and save turtles and lots of other marine animals at same time.

Take three bits of plastic or other rubbish away ever time you visit a beach or a river.

Remember your re-usable shopping bags and try not to buy stuff that’s got lots of packaging.

Do it for the turtles on World Turtle Day and then keep doing it every day afterwards.Taronga Green Grants Appliction Form Application form and more information about Taronga Green Grants.