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Sea Turtle Restoration Project

This is the “extra” panel we made as part of our school quilt project at Thomas Starr King Middle School in the spring of 2013. This panel was not included in either quilt block, but was made specifically for Dr Chris Pincetich, the Outreach and Education Manager at Turtle Island Restoration Network. Students from both classes worked on this panel, and it was delivered to the TIRN offices in Northern California during the summer.

Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle Background made of old jeans sewn together on a 1906 Singer treadle machine. Sea turtle, jellyfish, and plastic bags made from remnant fabric donated by the Center Theater Group Costume Shop. Fabric paint and rubber stamps.
Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle
Background made of old jeans sewn together on a 1906 Singer treadle machine. Sea turtle, jellyfish, and plastic bags made from remnant fabric donated by the Center Theater Group Costume Shop. Fabric paint and rubber stamps.

To learn more about Turtle Island Restoration Network go to:

http://www.tirn.net

or

www.seaturtles.org

 

 

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Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle

Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle by Gaby, Yulin, Marina, and Sarah. Fabric applique and collage, with rubber stamping
Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle by Gaby R, Yu Lin L, Marina B, and Sarah S.  Ms Harada’s class, Thomas Starr King Middle School, 2013.  Fabric applique and collage, with rubber stamping.

The Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest known sea turtle, averaging 6 ft in length and weighing over 1,000 lbs. They travel immense distances and can dive as much as 4,922 ft deep.

The Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle was recently named the California State Marine Reptile, and has been listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act since 1970. The Pacific Leatherback population has been dropping  rapidly in recent years. The main threats, according to scientists, are accidental deaths due to commercial fishing (especially longline), sale of sea turtle eggs, loss of nesting grounds due to beachfront development, and ocean pollution; especially the ingestion of plastic bags and other debris.

For more information and to help sea turtles go to Turtle Island Restoration Network at www.seaturtles.org

For more information on the Leatherback Sea Turtle go to:

http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/leatherback-turtle

http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/seaturtles/turtle%20factsheets/leatherback-sea-turtle.htm

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/leatherback-sea-turtle/

For just how dire the threat is, go to:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/27/us-turtles-leatherback-idUSBRE91Q0VA20130227