48 baby sea turtles successfully hatch in Phang Nga
In some uplifting news, 48 baby leatherback sea turtles successfully hatched in Phang Nga‘s Tai Mueang district, The Phuket Express reported yesterday.
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) confirmed the good news, saying the turtles made their way into the sea.
According to the DMCR, 48 of the eggs successfully hatched and the baby turtles were able to make their way to the sea, while 48 other eggs did not hatch.
Leatherback sea turtles are the largest of all living turtles, and the fourth heaviest modern reptiles behind three crocodilians, according to Thai National Parks.
Leatherbacks aren’t the only sea turtles in trouble in Thailand. Green sea turtles are listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Only one in 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings is thought to make it to adulthood. Without guidance, many hatchlings die from dehydration because they don’t make it to the ocean fast enough. This is why Thailand’s DMCR plays a crucial role in protecting baby sea turtles.
Last month, 165 baby hawksbill sea turtles hatched and ventured into the sea in Phang Nga on Tuesday. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources reported that a mother hawksbill sea turtle had laid a total of 190 eggs on January 15 this year.
The successful hatching of the baby turtles took place at Chong Khao Kad Bay in the Mo Ko Surin National Park, where park officials released them back to their homes in the sea.
The hawksbill sea turtle is a critically endangered turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. Their appearance is similar to that of other sea turtles, however, Hawksbill shells slightly change colours depending on water temperatures.
Successful hatchings and releasing of baby turtles are good news for conservation efforts, as every hatchling that makes it to the sea increases the chances of the species surviving and thriving.
