More than 100 green sea turtle hatchlings made their way from the beach to the sea at Kenting National Park on Saturday, marking the fourth time this year that sea turtles have nested in Kenting.
The Kenting National Park Headquarters worked with ecological volunteers to monitor the site, safeguarding the hatchlings as they crawled to the sea.
The headquarters’ conservation department said the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島) is a popular site for sea turtle nesting, with more records of sea turtles laying eggs there in recent years.
Photo courtesy of a reader
It is not easy for sea turtles to come ashore and lay eggs, so every time is precious, the department said.
Residents and businesses have participated in conservation courses, cooperated with conservation efforts and shown respect for the marine environment, allowing this part of the ocean to continue nurturing life, the department said.
Green sea turtles have a miraculous innate sense of direction, returning to the beach they were born to lay eggs even though they travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometers for food as adults, the headquarters said.
These baby turtles would eventually return to Kenting to reproduce, following the same instinct, it said.
With sea turtles nesting in Kenting more frequently in recent years, there is hope that the area’s sea turtle population would one day rival that of Siaoliouciou Island (小琉球), it added.
Residents said they are hoping for the birth of more baby turtles, as another nest has clear signs of crawl marks, although hatchlings have yet to be spotted.
The headquarters works with the Ocean Conservation Administration to inspect nesting sites, ensuring that eggs are not affected by human disturbances, light pollution or climate change.
The headquarters said the people should follow the “five no’s” when encountering sea turtles: no touching, no harassing, no feeding, no chasing and no harming.
If you discover a stranded or struggling sea turtle, you can report it to the Coast Guard Administration by calling 118, it said.
Local conservationists said tourists should avoid beaches where turtles nest at night and limit light usage to ensure that hatchlings do not get lost due to light pollution.
After playing on the beach, visitors should even out the sand and take away all trash to ensure hatchlings have a safe path to crawl to the sea, they said.
The headquarters said it has worked with volunteers, residents and businesses to protect the area and would continue to promote environmental education and conservation efforts.
Sea turtles hatching this past Saturday symbolizes the recovery of Kenting’s marine ecology, it added.
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