Green turtle bounces back from the brink of extinction

The green turtle has been saved from near extinction in what scientists are calling one of the world's great conservation success stories.

- TOM WATLING

Once hunted relentlessly for its meat, eggs and decorative shell, the species saw its numbers collapse in the 20th century and has been listed as endangered since the 1980s. But after decades of protection efforts, from safeguarding nesting beaches to reducing accidental catches in fishing nets, global populations have started to rebound.

Research published by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said the global population of green turtles has increased by approximately 28 per cent since the 1970s.