Green sea turtles are no longer endangered

Green sea turtles are now considered safe from extinction.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, the creatures have "improved in status from endangered to least concern, thanks to decades of sustained conservation action."

"Conservation efforts have focused on protecting nesting females and their eggs on beaches, expanding community-based initiatives to reduce unsustainable harvest of turtles and their eggs for human consumption, curtailing trade, and using Turtle Excluder Devices and other measures to reduce the accidental capture of turtles in fishing gear," it said.

The IUCN noted that their global population has increased approximately 28% since the 1970s, even though there are ongoing threats to some subpopulations.

Green sea turtles are described as "keystone species in tropical marine ecosystems such as seagrass meadows and coral reefs, and have held cultural, culinary, spiritual, and recreational importance for people worldwide for millennia."

Despite the positive development, the IUCN noted they are still not far from danger. 

"Despite this global improvement, green turtles remain significantly depleted compared to their abundance prior to European colonization and their widespread unsustainable use and trade in many parts of the world."

The Red List of Threatened Species was revealed at the IUCN World Conservation Congress this month.

The Red List, established in 1964, is known as the most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi, and plant species.

The status of green sea turtles can also be checked on their website.