Every year sea turtles climb out of the warm Gulf of Mexico waters to dig holes in the sand on the shoreline to lay their eggs.
But this year, experts are worried that the massive BP oil spill will disrupt the sea turtles’ mating and breeding cycles.
That means that in your lifetime, five species of endangered sea turtles (there are only seven species of sea turtles in the world) that live in the Gulf of Mexico may be gone for good.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Services, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will relocate 700 nests in an effort to prevent the loss of an entire generation of hatchlings.
You can make this terra cotta sea turtle to bring attention to the plight of the wildlife suffering and dying as a result of the BP oil spill. Most of the supplies are available at craft stores.
Supplies you will need
Acrylic paints in various shades of green, brown, yellow and black paint
2 2-inch wood oval shapes
3 2-inch wood teardrop shapes
1 1/2-inch teardrop shape
1 3-inch wood disc
1 3-inch terra-cotta plant saucer
White craft glue
Sea sponge
2 tiny wiggle eyes
Directions
Paint the three large teardrops and the ovals brown, the small teardrop green and the disc yellow. Let dry.
Paint the bottom of the saucer dark green and paint the rim black. Set aside.
When dry, use the sponge to dab various colors of yellow, brown and green on the saucer.
With brown paint, draw geometric patterns on the disc. Glue it to the underside of the saucer.
Glue the two ovals to either side of the disc for front legs and one large teardrop to the center for a head. Glue the remaining large teardrops to the rear on either side for back legs.
Glue the small teardrop opposite the head and between the back legs for a tail.
Glue the wiggle eyes to the top of the head of the turtle.
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