More than 1.1m sea turtles illegally killed over past 30 years, study finds

Critically endangered hawksbill turtles, which are prized for their beautiful shells, are one of two species that make up 95% of the illegal trade. Photograph: Wild Horizon/Universal/Getty

More than 1.1 million sea turtles have been illegally killed in the past 30 years, according to new data.

Despite laws to protect them, scientists at Arizona State University estimate that about 44,000 turtles across 65 countries were illegally killed and exploited every year over the past decade.