Watch as These Baby Sea Turtles Emerge From the Sand

Many researchers have documented the lives of sea turtles. Videos like this one prove how lucky we are to witness the life cycle of this endangered species. A sea turtle’s fight for survival after birth is nothing short of a miracle. This video shows part of the process, but there’s so much more to this incredible reproductive journey.

The Race to the Ocean

In this video, baby sea turtles dig themselves from the sand in which they were laid as eggs. However, their nesting spot was anything but random. Female sea turtles return to their birth location to lay their eggs as adults. She uses her back flippers to burrow in the sand and lay eggs above the high water mark. After covering the eggs back up with sand, she returns to the sea. The entire process can take up to three hours, while eggs incubate in the sand for around 60 days. Adult females repeat this process three to five times a season. A nest might contain up to 100 eggs, but sadly, not every sea turtle returns to the ocean.

A Fight For Survival

According to the National Ocean Service, the temperature of the sand determines the gender of sea turtles. Due to climate change, more sea turtle females are born year after year. This affects the diversity of the species but isn’t the only threat sea turtles face when emerging from their nest. This mass nesting event is called arribadas. Thousands of baby sea turtles rush to the ocean’s edge each season, hoping to return to the sea. Unfortunately, predators such as crabs, birds, and other marine life are often too quick. One in every 1,000 sea turtles is estimated to return to the ocean.

The Surviving Few Live For Decades

The good news is that surviving sea turtles live long lives. After hatching, they’ll live for 50 to 100 years. They’re able to reproduce after a decade, helping the species’ survival. In the wild, sea turtles face a number of threats, including pollution, human interference, climate change, and coastal development. They’re protected in the United States under the Endangered Species Act, but we can do plenty to ensure their survival.

NOAA Fisheries recommends keeping known nesting beaches dark. Awareness of nesting locations to avoid disruption also increases a sea turtle’s chances of survival. Off the beach, the biggest ways to help are choosing sustainable seafood, reducing plastic use, and supporting conservation efforts.