There are many animals featured as emojis, but one that is very close to our hearts is missing...the sea turtle!

We have all seen or used the terrestrial tortoise. We believe it’s time for the sea turtle to receive its own emoji and get the recognition this iconic animal deserves!

Sea turtles are marine reptiles that have inhabited Earth since the time of dinosaurs. There are seven sea turtle species worldwide — the loggerhead, green, leatherback, Kemp's ridley, hawksbill, olive ridley, and flatback — and all six sea turtles found in U.S. waters are listed as either endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

With the addition of a sea turtle emoji, not only can we all express our love for these charismatic marine animals, but we will also be able to share the importance of sea turtle conservation. Plastic pollution, industrial fishing, climate change, and other anthropogenic (human-caused) threats could cause sea turtles to go extinct in our lifetimes.

Sign Turtle Island Restoration Network’s petition to create an emoji for sea turtles — when we’re able to easily express and share our love for sea turtles online, we will be able to inspire more conservation action to help save the seven species of mighty sea turtle!