Leather 'bag' Turtle
By Turtle-tastic not Plastic

A Driftwood and plastic bagTurtle made in response to the damage plastic bags are doing to our marine environment. We are a group of ladies who think that Turtles are fantastic and should not be filled with plastic!!
This sculpture Aims to inform and bring about some consciousness to anyone who comes in contact with it.

Some Facts:
Leatherback Turtles inhabit the English Channel (just out there!)
Leatherback Turtles eat Jellyfish
In water, plastic bags look like Jellyfish
Leatherback Turtles eat the plastic bags thinking they are Jellyfish
Leatherback Turtles have 'barbs' (like fish hooks) in their digestive tract that prevents jelly fish coming 'back up' when they eat them.
These 'barbs' also prevent the plastic bags from coming back up
Plastic bags collect in the stomach of the Leatherback Turtles
Plastic bags offer 'toxins' not nutrition to the Turtles
The Leatherback Turtle gradually dies of starvation
Over third of leatherback deaths are caused by plastic backs!
An average of 6 a year are found on British shores, having died of plastic bag starvation or accidental damage from fishing equipment.
Information about British Turtle sightings can be found at the British Marine Life Study Society website: http://www.glaucus.org.uk/turtles.htm
Find out more information about the leatherback Turtle and why it is endangered worldwide at http://www.seaturtlenet.com