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Headstart programs - attempts to raise turtles for 10 months to a year - began as an effort to protect the turtles in their most vulnerable hatchling and juvenile stages. Unfortunately, headstart programs are expensive and have not been proven to be effective. Some scientists worry that headstarting turtles may cause behavioral modifications, imprinting interruption, or deficiencies of tank rearing. In addition, headstart programs cost almost 200,000 dollars a turtle.