Marine Turtle – making a splash with designer flip flops
We have looked at the Giant Panda and the Polar Bear in the two previous blogs in an attempt to address the issues concerning their endangered species statuses, and to highlight the reasons that Beasts footwear has modelled its designs around these wonderful creatures.
This blog is all about the Marine Turtle, more specifically the Hawksbill; a gracefully slow-moving, kind-eyed omnivore that has become a critically endangered species. The Hawksbill’s natural habitat is predominantly tropical coral reefs but they are considered a highly migratory species, and have not been known to stay in one place very long. For a creature considered slow, they do get around a lot!
If you were to meet a Hawksbill up close and personal you would notice its flipper-like arms, flattened body and protective carapace (which is the dorsal convex part of the turtle’s shell). The reason this particular breed of marine turtle stands out is for its curved beak that is almost bird-like in appearance (perhaps where their name originated from). Hawksbills may be ocean-bound most of the time by they are partial to land too.
The turtle has long been a symbol of patience and wisdom… and slowness! Throughout history they have been an emblem of longevity in many cultures and societies as they often have very long life spans. They are peaceful creatures and could be fairly described as the “Buddhists of the Sea.”
Unfortunately, the peaceful are always the ones who suffer the most persecution, and the Hawksbill turtle is no exception here. Human fishing practices have plundered this species onto the endangered list and pushed them to the very real brink of extinction. The reason for this is mostly to do with their shells that are used for decorative purposes. These practices have been since outlawed, so that the capture of Hawksbill turtles can be considered an illegal act. It is in fact, against the law to kill or harass the Hawksbill, and the importing and exporting of turtle products has been banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Ironically, their long life spans and slow growth actually work against them. The Hawksbill has a slow reproductive rate and this does not help their survival in the face of potential eradication. The encroachment of humans and other animals on their nesting sites only adds to the problem.
As the turtle has, albeit inadvertently, become our bastion of peace and wisdom in the human world, it is appropriate that the Hawksbill’s image continues to represent the long journeys we take through this wild world. The marine turtle designer flip flops are at once a symbol and a message conveying the idea that no matter how long it takes you to get somewhere, by foot or by sea; the slow journeys are the ones worth taking for they lead you towards wisdom, enlightenment and peace.
If you have taken a journey wearing our designer flip flops please do share your adventures with the community. If you’re anything like the Hawksbill, you take your time getting somewhere because there is so much to see, so much to learn and so much to cherish along the way. Mr. Hawksbill, we here at Beasts salute you!