A nest of 130 Loggerhead turtle eggs was recently excavated on Australia’s Shelly Beach after temperatures dropped, endangering the survival of the embryos. The eggs were taken to Taronga Zoo’s Wildlife Hospital to be incubated and monitored by a team of experts.
Taronga Sydney Zoo reported in a social media post that the joint effort of several animal and wildlife rescue organizations made the release of the hatchlings possible. Although Loggerhead turtles inhabit the warmer parts of the world’s oceans and are found in the Mediterranean Sea, these animals prefer to nest in a limited number of places, such as Australia, Florida, Cape Verde, Oman, and Mozambique. They also have a tendency to return to their birthplace to lay eggs every few years.
The Loggerhead turtle is an endangered species and the largest extant species of sea turtle. The release of these hatchlings is a great achievement for the conservation of the species, as less than one percent of the turtles that hatch survive to adulthood. Therefore, this release will contribute significantly to the increase of the Loggerhead turtle population.
In addition, releasing the hatchlings was not an easy task, as it required a careful process and constant monitoring. The release of sea turtles is also an important process to ensure that the turtles have the best chance of surviving in their natural environment. The successful release of the hatchlings is a reminder of the importance of collaboration and collective effort in the conservation of endangered wildlife.