Green turtles observed hatching on North Island, Seychelles
Nov 18th, 2009 by janieharmsen
North Island, Seychelles
A couple visiting North Island, Seychelles were greeted on their first day of their vacation by an exciting event on the beach. They had just settled into their private villa when they recieved a phone call from reception telling them to make their way down to the beach.
They wasted no time and on arrival discovered a green turtle nest with youngsters actively hatching. Guests watched 140 hatchlings making their way down to the water. Elliot was on hand to make sure that none of the turtles got stuck in the footprints on the sand.
Green turrtles are endangered species and their nests are closely monitored to ensure that the maximum number of hatchlings make it to the ocean. They are hunted as a food source and considered in many countries to be a delicacy. Nesting beaches are also under threat of development and pollution. According to Elliot Mokhobo, who watches over the nests, only one or two out of an entire nest will reach adulthood. He marks each nest and knows eaxactly how many eggs there are in each one and when they are due to hatch.
The average lifespan of a green turtle is 80 years. They have been known to live even longer in the wild. Unlike the predatory hawksbill and loggerhead turtles - the green turtle is a herbivore feeding predominantly on seagrass. They migrate long distances between feeding grounds but will return to the same spot where they were hatched to lay their eggs.