Hola amigos! 🐢 Ever wondered how a green sea turtle hatches in the wild? Thanks to Chinese researchers, we have the full behind-the-scenes story from Yongshu Reef in the South China Sea.
On August 10, a mama turtle crawled ashore to the sandy beaches of Yongshu Reef, part of the Nansha Islands. Spotting her was just the beginning: after laying a clutch of eggs, the team kept a close watch for 52 days. And yes, they saw every moment of the miracle as the baby turtles broke free!
Back in July, researchers from the environmental protection department on Yongshu Reef and the Integrated Research Center for Reefs and Islands Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered the nesting site. They quickly set up a monitoring and protection zone, complete with warning signs and enhanced site management to keep prying eyes (and feet!) away.
Throughout the incubation, the team recorded daily beach and seawater data, capturing temperature changes, humidity, sand conditions, and more. All that info will fuel a growing database dedicated to turtle conservation across the islands and reefs of the South China Sea.
Green sea turtles are classified as a first-class protected species on the Chinese mainland. After years of ecological protection, Yongshu Reef is blossoming into a stable breeding ground. 🌱
With the newly collected hatching and environmental data, this research crew is gearing up to supercharge green turtle recovery efforts and inspire conservation projects everywhere these majestic creatures swim. 🌊
Stay tuned for more updates from the reefs! Next stop: helping these little hatchlings journey safely to the sea and beyond. 🚀
Reference(s):
Green sea turtle hatching process recorded on South China Sea reef
cgtn.com
