Featured Non-Profit

Sea Turtle, Inc.

Sea Turtle, Inc., is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1977 by Ila Loetscher (The Turtle Lady) on South Padre Island, to aid and assist in the protection of the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, in order to restore the Ridley population to a level that will ensure its survival. Since 1977, STI has expanded to actively support the conservation of all marine turtle species. In order to achieve its goals, STI provides educational programs to schools, tourist bureaus, civic organizations and new media. STI currently assists the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service with patrolling the South Texas Beaches for sea turtle nests. STI sponsors and maintains a corral for the protection of these sea turtle nests

Sea turtles are among the largest living reptiles. Unlike land turtles from which they evolved, sea turtles spend almost their entire lives in the sea. Sea turtles are cold-blooded animals with a bony shell and although they live in the sea, they breathe air and lay their eggs on land. Of the six sea turtle species that are found in the U.S. waters or nest on U.S. beaches, all are designated as either threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Endangered status means a species is considered in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Threatened status means it is likely to become endangered.

The Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle is dependent upon the shallow coastal habitats of the U. S. east coast and the Gulf of Mexico for foraging and developmental habitat. Because sea turtles have shared resources, conservation efforts for turtle populations in one country may be jeopardized by activities in another country. Protecting sea turtles on U.S. nesting beaches and in U. S. waters is not sufficient alone to ensure the survival of these species. Cooperation among nations is critical for the sea turtles’ survival.

Mamacuna Traders feels strongly about the efforts of Sea Turtle, Inc. and other organizations that are working to ensure that sea turtles remain free to swim freely in our world’s oceans. Therefore, with every purchase of a Malindi Handcraft Table Top Turtle, Mamacuna Traders will donate a portion of the sale price to Sea Turtle, Inc.

For more information on how you can help sea turtles, check out www.seaturtleinc.com.