Kemp's Ridley

June 1, 2008-June 7, 2008

Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) is a species of sea turtle categorized by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) as critically endangered. Its name was taken from Richard Kemp, the first to send in a specimen of the species to Samuel Garman of Harvard University. It is also known as heartbreak turtle

Being the smallest sea turtle species in the world, Kemp’s ridley grows at a length of only less than a meter and an average weight of 45 kilograms. It has a triangular-shaped head with a somewhat hooked beak used to grab and break up crabs which are its common diet.

Kemp’s ridleys were once commonly found in Louisiana, New Jersey, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. But due to habitat loss, pollution and entanglement in fishing, they are now common in conservation areas. So far, countries such as Mexico and the United States are on their move to increase the number of Kemp’s ridleys once again. One of their preservation mechanisms is the introduction of TED (Turtle Excluder Device).

Top 3 Kemp’s Ridley Snapshots

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Whales: The Smallest, The Biggest, The Deadliest

May 4, 2008-May 10, 2008

The dwarf sperm whale, scientifically known as Kogia sima, is the world’s smallest whale. It has a length that exceeds up to 2.7 meters only and a weight that reaches about 250 kilograms. It is occasionally even smaller than bigger dolphins.

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is hailed as the biggest of all whales. It is also deemed to be the most enormous animal to ever have existed on Earth. It reaches up to an extreme length of 33 meters and weighs about 181 metric tons or even heavier than that.

The deadliest whale is believed to be the killer whale or the orca (short for its scientific name, Orcinus orca). It is a versatile and very opportunistic predator, hunting in packs for fishes, seals, sea lions and even large whales and sea birds. Additionally, it usually swallows its prey whole.

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