The Arawaks now monitor every aspect of the turtles' lives, from where they make their nests to how many eggs hatch, then report their findings to Pritchard. And they police the nests against poachers. Pritchard also taught the Arawaks how to raise chickens for food instead of dining on the turtles. Now, their turtle-hunting days are over, because protecting turtles has become part of their tribal custom. Human consumption isn't the only danger to turtle survival, Pritchard says.
Loss of habitat is a factor, as are natural enemies such as raccoons, who feed on turtle eggs.
And nests often are inadvertently disturbed by humans and animals. Still, their edibility is the greatest threat to turtles. Pritchard currently is working with people in Southeast Asia, where the turtle is considered a delicacy. Nowadays, it occasionally shows itself, but rarely. And that's because it's nearing extinction.