Hawksbill sea turtles are one of the most beautiful and important species in the ocean. They help coral reefs thrive by eating sponges and are a thrill for divers and snorkelers to see in the wild. But they have been hunted to the edge of extinction for their colorful shell. Their shells (also known as "tortoiseshell") are made into jewelry and other products that are frequently sold to travelers in markets across Latin America, Asia, and elsewhere. 

Too Rare To Wear works to end demand for tortoiseshell products around the world. We work with more than 150 tour operators and conservation groups to educate travelers about these products, provide funding for organizations working to reduce the trade in Colombia, Nicaragua, Indonesia, & elsewhere, and study the tortoiseshell trade.

So far, we have:

• Published two international reports on this trade

• Launched the groundbreaking SEE Shell App which uses AI to identify these products

• Created a coalition with 150 tourism companies and conservation organizations to address this trade

• Helped our partners at Fundacion Tortugas del Mar reduce this trade by 80% in Cartagena, Colombia

• Funded local efforts to address this trade in Indonesia, Colombia, Costa Rica, & Panama

We put 90% of all donations to efforts to end the turtleshell trade. 10% of each goes to program management and administration. SEE Turtles is a 501c3 non-profit and all donations are tax deductible. Our EIN in 81-4325149.

To learn more about SEE Turtles' mission, programs, and successes and get a copy of our IRS forms, click here.

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 Help Save Hawksbills

• Take Our Pledge to Avoid Turtleshell

• Learn How To Recognize Turtleshell

• Report Turtleshell

• Research Reports

• Campaign Partners

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