This Group Has Given 640,000 Turtle Hatchlings a Shot at Life

These photos shared by oceanfervor and oceansnation were taken by drones flying over the waters of this incredible gathering place. Raine Island is a remote, uninhabited island in the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia. Despite its small size, the island is the world’s largest green turtle rookery, or nesting area. Researchers use an AI software tool to estimate the number of turtles spotted by the drones. During a good breeding season, up to 64,000 turtles come to the area to breed and lay their eggs. But why do they all come here?

A Green Turtle Reunion

Green turtles (Chelonia mydas), or green sea turtles, are herbivorous reptiles found in subtropical and tropical waters all over the world. Their name comes from the green fat deposits under their shells, which are caused by their algae and seagrass diet. Green turtles grow 3-4 feet long and weigh between 250 to 400 pounds, with the females being larger. They live in the shallow, coastal waters of over 140 countries and are known to nest in more than 80.

So, why do so many turtles nest on Raine Island? The island has been a green turtle nesting place for over 1,000 years. These turtles have an estimated lifespan of over 70 years, with an estimated reproductive life of around 30 years. Female turtles average around three clutches of 75-200 eggs during the season. However, researchers report they can lay up to nine clutches. Since green turtles return to the beach where they were hatched, that can add up to a lot of turtles.

Turtle Navigation

Adult male green turtles breed each year, but females only migrate every 2-5 years to breed and nest. Female green turtles may travel thousands of miles from their foraging grounds to the nesting site. Males travel shorter distances, possibly because they breed more often. Scientists suggest males may forage closer to known breeding sites to save the time and energy they would have expended on migration.

Sea turtles use multiple sources of information that help them navigate to this remote island. Researchers found evidence that sea turtles use cues from the Earth’s magnetic field to help plot their course. The turtles also use signs such as the direction of the waves, chemical cues from the nesting site, the position of the sun and other celestial bodies, and even the temperature of the water.

From Egg to Hatchling

On Raine Island, the breeding season takes place between October to March. That is spring and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. When the turtles reach the waters around the nesting area, they will find a mate and breed. Both males and females may have more than one mate.

Green turtles are reptiles, so they must lay their eggs on land to allow the developing turtles to breathe. The female turtle crawls onto the beach to make a nest for her eggs. She digs a hole in the sand with her front legs. Then she lays the eggs in the hole, camouflaging them with sand before returning to the water. After around 45-75 days, the eggs hatch, and the little hatchlings make their way to the sea.

The Raine Island Recovery Project

The IUCN Red List classifies green turtles as Endangered. Unfortunately, only 30%-60% of embryos develop successfully, and few turtles reach adulthood. Higher sand temperatures only produce females, so scientists also worry that there may not be enough males to sustain the population long-term.

Fortunately, the Raine Island Recovery Project is working to aid the recovery of green turtle populations. So far, the group has raised sand levels to reduce flooding, installed fences to prevent turtles from being injured or killed on the rocks, and rescued over 700 trapped adult turtles at risk of heat exhaustion. An estimated 640,000 more hatchlings have also been given a chance at life, thanks to their efforts. Hopefully, we’ll continue to see record numbers of green turtles return to their favorite beach.