<strong>A global cause:</strong> Resorts all over the world are teaming up with sea turtle conservation groups, giving tourists a chance to get up close to these endangered creatures. In Hainan, China, Sea Turtles 911 has joined several hotels to increase awareness of the animals' plight.
A global cause: Resorts all over the world are teaming up with sea turtle conservation groups, giving tourists a chance to get up close to these endangered creatures. In Hainan, China, Sea Turtles 911 has joined several hotels to increase awareness of the animals' plight.
LOIC VENANCE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Could they return?:</strong> Sea turtles stopped laying eggs on Hanan's shores some 30 years ago due to hunting and urbanization of the island's beaches. Sea Turtles 911 hopes to bring them back by educating the population, raising awareness among tourists and rehabilitating and releasing seized turtles.
Could they return?: Sea turtles stopped laying eggs on Hanan's shores some 30 years ago due to hunting and urbanization of the island's beaches. Sea Turtles 911 hopes to bring them back by educating the population, raising awareness among tourists and rehabilitating and releasing seized turtles.
AFP/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>On the mend:</strong> US intern Elizabeth Liu holds a young green sea turtle currently being rehabilitated at a turtle laboratory in southern China.
On the mend: US intern Elizabeth Liu holds a young green sea turtle currently being rehabilitated at a turtle laboratory in southern China.
CNN/Ben Westcott
<strong>Turtle hospital: </strong>The turtle laboratory and hospital is located at Hainan Normal University and houses both salt and freshwater turtles.
Turtle hospital: The turtle laboratory and hospital is located at Hainan Normal University and houses both salt and freshwater turtles.
CNN/Ben Westcott
<strong>Recovery tubs: </strong>The patients, such as this green sea turtle, are kept inside large dark blue tubs in a section of the university gardens.
Recovery tubs: The patients, such as this green sea turtle, are kept inside large dark blue tubs in a section of the university gardens.
CNN/Ben Westcott
<strong>Open to tourists:</strong> Another patient, also a green sea turtle, being cared for at Hainan Normal University in the coastal village of Lingshui. Volunteers and tourists visiting the labs at the university and the Ritz-Carlton in Yalong Bay can see the sea turtles up close and personal.
Open to tourists: Another patient, also a green sea turtle, being cared for at Hainan Normal University in the coastal village of Lingshui. Volunteers and tourists visiting the labs at the university and the Ritz-Carlton in Yalong Bay can see the sea turtles up close and personal.
CNN/Ben Westcott
<strong>Raising awareness:</strong> Once the turtles are well enough, they're released back into the ocean. Basketball Hall of Famer Yao Ming and Sea Turtles 911 founder Frederick Yeh released a sea turtle in June 2014 at Sanya, Hainan.
Raising awareness: Once the turtles are well enough, they're released back into the ocean. Basketball Hall of Famer Yao Ming and Sea Turtles 911 founder Frederick Yeh released a sea turtle in June 2014 at Sanya, Hainan.
Frederick Yeh
<strong>Hainan:</strong> "Historically, this is their motherland," says Hainan Normal University Professor Shi Haitao of the island, which is often referred to as the "Hawaii" of China. "So they should return."
Hainan: "Historically, this is their motherland," says Hainan Normal University Professor Shi Haitao of the island, which is often referred to as the "Hawaii" of China. "So they should return."
CNN/Ben Westcott
<strong>Foreign objects: </strong>Polluted oceans are also a danger to China's sea turtles. An assistant at Haikou Normal University holds up a piece of plastic passed by one of the turtles under their care.
Foreign objects: Polluted oceans are also a danger to China's sea turtles. An assistant at Haikou Normal University holds up a piece of plastic passed by one of the turtles under their care.
CNN/Ben Westcott
<strong>Abandoned pets:</strong> Some sea turtles were brought to the hospital after being kept as pets. This juvenile sea turtle's shell was damaged and infected when he was kept as a pet in someone's house.
Abandoned pets: Some sea turtles were brought to the hospital after being kept as pets. This juvenile sea turtle's shell was damaged and infected when he was kept as a pet in someone's house.
CNN/Ben Westcott