Support sea turtle conservation worldwide by adopting a sea turtle today.
Support sea turtle conservation by adopting a sea turtle species or naming a leatherback sea turtle today. Your symbolic sea turtle adoption or sea turtle naming with Oceanic Society not only makes a great gift, but it also provides support to our sea turtle conservation programs. We are a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 94-3105570), and your symbolic animal adoptions are tax-deductible.
Holiday order note: All orders (digital or print) must be placed by December 18 for delivery by Christmas.
Sea Turtle Adoption Options
Adopt or name a sea turtle today by choosing from the options below!
Adopt a Sea Turtle
Species: $50
For a tax-deductible adoption fee of $50 you will receive:
- A personalized printed or digital certificate of adoption good for one year (gifting options available).
- Free domestic shipping via USPS, on request (note: international orders will receive a digital certificate).
Name a Leatherback
Turtle: $500
For a tax-deductible fee of $500, you can name a leatherback sea turtle tagged on Matura Beach in Trinidad and Tobago. Your donation will support Nature Seekers, the nonprofit conservation group responsible for protecting and collecting data on your named turtle. You will also receive:
- A personalized naming certificate with information collected by Nature Seekers about your sea turtle.
- A leatherback turtle fact sheet and information about the work you are supporting.
- Free shipping worldwide, upon request.
- Public acknowledgment on our Named Sea Turtles page and in Nature Seekers’ annual report.
- Permanent recognition as the leatherback’s patron in Nature Seekers’ database.
- Updates about re-sightings of your turtle and new data (if available).
Name a Satellite-Tracked
Leatherback Turtle: $2,000
For a tax-deductible fee of $2,000, you can name a satellite-tracked leatherback turtle and follow its migration. Beyond supporting leatherback conservation, you will receive:
- Permanent recognition on our satellite tracking platform, where you can follow your turtle's movements.
- A personalized certificate with details about your turtle.
- Free worldwide shipping of your naming packet.
- Inclusion in Nature Seekers’ database as the official patron of your leatherback, and recognition in their annual report.
- Email updates on your turtle’s movements and any re-sightings or new data collected (when available).
Sea Turtle Species Available for Adoption
Leatherback Sea Turtle
Common Name: Leatherback turtle
Scientific Name: Dermochelys coriacea
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable
Adult Length: 4.5 to 6+ feet (140-180+ cm)
Adult Weight: 661 to 1,410+ lbs (300-640 kg)
The largest of the sea turtles, leatherback turtles are superlative in many ways. They make the longest migrations of any sea turtle and among the longest migrations of any vertebrate, sometimes crossing entire ocean basins just to feed. For example, leatherback turtles that breed and nest in West Papua, Indonesia swim across the Pacific Ocean to feed on abundant jellyfish off the coast of California and Oregon—more than 12,000 miles! Leatherbacks also make the deepest dives of any sea turtle, regularly diving to depths greater than 1,000 m (3,281 ft) where no sunlight reaches. These spectacular animals are threatened with extinction worldwide, and are rapidly declining in many parts of the world.
Green Sea Turtle
Common Name: Green turtle
Scientific Name: Chelonia mydas
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered
Adult Length: 2.6 to 4 feet (80-120 cm)
Adult Weight: Up to 661lbs (300 kg)
The most iconic of the sea turtles, the green turtle also has the most numerous and widely dispersed nesting sites of the seven species. As adults, green turtles are mainly herbivores and are known to play an important role as “grazers” in seagrass ecosystems. Green turtles were formerly one of the most abundant large vertebrates in the ocean, but populations have declined dramatically over the past several hundred years, leaving them as endangered globally. Green turtles were once highly sought after for their body fat – a key ingredient in the popular delicacy, ‘green turtle soup.’ Although it has become illegal to catch and trade them in many parts of the world, green turtles and their eggs continue to be eaten, and face newer threats from fishing, coastal development, and climate change.
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Common Name: Hawksbill turtle
Scientific Name: Eretmochelys imbricata
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
Adult Length: 2.5 to 3 feet (75-90 cm)
Adult Weight: Up to 331 lbs (150 kg)
Named for their sharp, pointed beaks, in most parts of the world hawksbill turtles feed primarily on reef sponges—invertebrate organisms whose bodies contain tiny, indigestible glass needles. Hawksbills are therefore most often found in close proximity to coral reefs. The hawksbill’s scientific name, imbricata, refers to the overlapping nature of the scutes (scales) on its shell. They have beautiful, translucent shells that have long been exploited for use in tortoiseshell jewelry. Though international trade of tortoiseshell has been prohibited, illegal trafficking continues, and hawksbills are Critically Endangered with extinction.
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
Common Name: Olive ridley turtle
Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable
Adult Length: 2 to 2.3 feet (60-70 cm)
Adult Weight: Up to 154 lbs (70 kg)
Far and away the most abundant sea turtle species, olive ridleys are known for their amazing mass nesting behavior. In one of nature's greatest spectacles — known as arribadas, the Spanish word for ‘arrival’ — olive ridleys come ashore simultaneously by the thousands to nest. These phenomena occur in just a handful of places worldwide, including Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico, and India. Though olive ridleys are the most abundant of sea turtles, they are also threatened by fisheries bycatch, egg harvest, and coastal development.
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle
Common Name: Kemp’s ridley turtle
Scientific Name: Lepidochelys kempii
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
Adult Length: 2 to 2.3 feet (60-70 cm)
Adult Weight: Up to 132 lbs (60 kg)
The Kemp’s ridley is the smallest of the sea turtles, and also the most endangered. It has a restricted range, nesting only along the Gulf of Mexico shores of northern Mexico and in Texas, U.S.A. Fifty years ago, the Kemp’s ridley nearly went extinct. Although this species now shows signs of recovery thanks to a long-term, dedicated multinational conservation effort, its population is still only a small fraction of what it was when it was first discovered in the 1940s. Unlike most sea turtle species, Kemp’s ridleys nest during the day.
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Common Name: Loggerhead turtle
Scientific Name: Caretta caretta
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable
Adult Length: 2.3 to 3.6 feet (70-110 cm)
Adult Weight: Up to 441 lbs (200 kg)
Loggerhead turtles are the most common and abundant species nesting in the United States. During the spring and summer, they nest on beaches throughout the southeast U.S. (from North Carolina south through Florida) and into the Gulf of Mexico. Loggerheads are named for their large heads, with jaws powerful enough to crush an adult queen conch (a favorite food). They are known for their vast migrations, among the longest of the sea turtles. For instance, loggerhead turtles that nest in Japan migrate across the Pacific Ocean to feed in the waters of Mexico! As a species that can travel thousands of miles across ocean basins, loggerheads are also threatened due to habitat loss, pollution, and accidental capture by fishermen.
Flatback Sea Turtle
Common Name: Flatback turtle
Scientific Name: Natator depressus
IUCN Red List Status: Data Deficient
Adult Length: 2.6 to 3.1 feet (80-95 cm)
Adult Weight: Up to 220 lbs (100 kg)
The flatback turtle is the least studied of the sea turtles and has one of the smallest geographic ranges. In fact, until 1988 flatbacks were thought to be a subspecies of green turtle rather than a separate species. Flatbacks nest solely along the northern coast of Australia, and live on the continental shelf between Australia, southern Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. These unique turtles have the largest eggs and hatchlings relative to their adult body size of all sea turtles, and they have a unique physiology that allows them to stay active underwater for longer periods than most other species.
Leatherback Sea Turtles Available For Naming
PIT Tag ID: AVID*050*060*070
First Tagged: April 24, 2004
Most Recent Sighting: April 12, 2025
Number of Years Seen Nesting: 3
AVID*050*060*070 was first tagged on April 24, 2004, and has been recorded nesting in two different years. Over the past two decades, she’s grown 7 cm in length and 7 cm in width, now measuring 163 cm (5 ft 4 in) long and 118 cm (3 ft 10 in) wide. Her most recent sighting in April 2025 shows that she continues to thrive, returning to nest in Trinidad after long stretches away.
PIT Tag ID: AVID*044*808*103
First Tagged: July 9, 2001
Most Recent Sighting: June 13, 2025
Number of Years Seen Nesting: 2
AVID*044*808*103 was first tagged on July 9, 2001, and while she’s only been recorded nesting in one year, her recent return in 2025 makes her a particularly rare sighting. She has grown 6 cm in length and 4 cm in width, now measuring 167 cm (5 ft 6 in) long and 120 cm (3 ft 11 in) wide. Her reappearance after such a long gap suggests she takes the scenic route on her migrations.
PIT Tag ID: AVID*044*857*377
First Tagged: July 17, 2001
Most Recent Sighting: May 26, 2025
Number of Years Seen Nesting: 3
First tagged on July 17, 2001, AVID*044*857*377 has been seen nesting in two different years, demonstrating steady loyalty to her nesting grounds. Since her first encounter, she’s added 6 cm in length and 5 cm in width, reaching a robust size of 167 cm (5 ft 6 in) long and 123 cm (4 ft 0 in) wide. Her broad frame hints at years spent successfully foraging offshore, and her 2025 return confirms her endurance.
PIT Tag ID: AVID*032*371*777
First Tagged: May 28, 1999
Most Recent Sighting: May 11, 2025
Number of Years Seen Nesting: 4
Tagged in May 1999, AVID*032*371*777 has been seen nesting in three different years, making her a familiar presence across decades. She has added 3 cm in length and 3 cm in width, now measuring 161 cm (5 ft 3 in) long and 115 cm (3 ft 9 in) wide. Her modest growth suggests she reached maturity early, and her repeated returns speak to remarkable navigational memory.
PIT Tag ID: AVID*032*380*631
First Tagged: April 18, 1999
Most Recent Sighting: April 17, 2025
Number of Years Seen Nesting: 3
First tagged in April 1999, AVID*032*380*631 is a true veteran of the nesting beach. She has been seen nesting in two different years and has shown impressive growth over time, adding 9 cm in length and 8 cm in width. Now measuring 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) long and 124 cm (4 ft 1 in) wide, her size and consistency mark her as a powerful and experienced mother leatherback, still going strong more than 25 years on.
PIT Tag ID: AVID*032*378*123
First Tagged: April 27, 1999
Most Recent Sighting: March 28, 2025
Number of Years Seen Nesting: 3
AVID*032*378*123 was first tagged on April 27, 1999, and has been recorded nesting in two different years. She’s grown an impressive 7 cm in length and 6 cm in width, now measuring 154 cm (5 ft 1 in) long and 120 cm (3 ft 11 in) wide. Though slightly smaller in stature, her steady growth and recent return highlight a determined turtle who continues to navigate vast distances with precision.
PIT Tag ID: AVID*032*364*799
First Tagged: April 9, 1999
Most Recent Sighting: April 25, 2025
Number of Years Seen Nesting: 6
AVID*032*364*799 was first tagged on April 9, 1999, and stands out as one of the most frequently recorded nesters in this group, with sightings in five different years. Over time, she’s grown 7 cm in length and 9 cm in width, now measuring 167 cm (5 ft 6 in) long and 123 cm (4 ft 0 in) wide. Her repeated returns to lay nests make her a true cornerstone of the nesting population.
PIT Tag ID: AVID*032*127*830
First Tagged: June 16, 2000
Most Recent Sighting: June 7, 2025
Number of Years Seen Nesting: 3
First tagged in June 2000, AVID*032*127*830 has surprised researchers with substantial growth over time. She’s added an impressive 12 cm in length and 11 cm in width, now measuring 163 cm (5 ft 4 in) long and 117 cm (3 ft 10 in) wide. Her 2025 sighting highlights a turtle that continues to bulk up with age—clear evidence of successful foraging in the open ocean.
PIT Tag ID: AVID*032*118*013
First Tagged: May 15, 1999
Most Recent Sighting: March 19, 2025
Number of Years Seen Nesting: 2
AVID*032*118*013 was first tagged on May 15, 1999, and has been seen nesting in two different years. Since then, she’s grown 5 cm in length and 8 cm in width, now measuring 157 cm (5 ft 2 in) long and 115 cm (3 ft 9 in) wide. Her rare visits to the nesting beach make it an exciting surprise when she’s spotted.
PIT Tag ID: AVID*032*028*521
First Tagged: May 21, 1999
Most Recent Sighting: April 13, 2025
Number of Years Seen Nesting: 2
First tagged in May 1999, AVID*032*028*521 has been recorded nesting in one year but made a powerful return in 2025. She’s grown 10 cm in length and 8 cm in width, now measuring an impressive 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) long and 123 cm (4 ft 0 in) wide. Her return to Trinidad in 2025 after such a long gap away was a pleasant surprise to researchers.