This Bora Bora Hotel is for Turtles Too

When travelers head to Bora Bora they typically have sun, sand and sparkling turquoise ocean in mind.

All of which the remote and stunning small South Pacific island delivers like few other destinations. But Le Meridien Bora Bora adds something slightly unexpected to the mix.

The luxe resort is also working to provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the marine creatures that have been swimming in the surrounding seas for at least 100 million years and the dangers they face as a result of plastic.

In 2001, the resort opened Bora Bora's only Turtle Center, which it then expanded in 2012 into a larger Ecological Center, according to Forbes.

The project started in 2000 when an injured turtle was brought to the resort by a guest. Since then, Le Meridien Bora Bora has continued to invest in turtle care and teach the next generation how to protect them.

Today, that effort includes allowing guests to observe turtle feedings and even swim with turtles in a mini lagoon.

In addition, biologists at the center take the time to discuss their mission of protecting the turtles with guests, including providing education about the incredible harm caused by the planet's growing amounts of plastic waste. A great deal of energy is invested in removing this and other junk from the turtle's stomachs.

About 100,000 marine creatures die each year from the plastic in the ocean and these are just the ones that are found, according to Ocean Crusaders. Approximately one million seabirds also die from plastic and there are about 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean. Of that, 269,000 tons float on the surface, while some four billion plastic microfibers per square kilometer litter the deep sea.

Many of the sea turtles at the Bora Bora center are brought there by citizens and police who find them after they've experienced threats ranging from being hurt by land animals and pets or sharks and whales, to being harmed by nets, boats and pollution.

The center also features a plaster turtle model custom-made in Spain that staff use to teach about the endangered creatures.

Ultimately, when the turtles are healthy enough, they are returned to the ocean, for which the staff holds a special farewell including a turtle benediction.

To learn more about the Bora Bora Turtle Center you can visit its Facebook page or visit the center in person.

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