More than 100 green sea turtle hatchlings made their way from the beach to the sea at Kenting National Park on Saturday, the fourth time this year that sea turtles have nested in Kenting.
Kenting National Park Headquarters worked with ecological volunteers to monitor the site, safeguarding the hatchlings as they crawled to the sea.
The park’s Conservation Department said that the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島) is a popular site for sea turtle nesting, with increasing numbers of turtles laying eggs there in the past few years.
Photo courtesy of a reader
It is not easy for sea turtles to come ashore and lay eggs, so timing 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, it said.
Green sea turtles have an innate sense of direction, returning to the beach they were born to lay eggs even though they have moved or traveled hundreds or even thousands of kilometers to forage for food, the park said.
With sea turtles nesting in Kenting more frequently in the past few years, the park said it is hopeful that the area’s sea turtle population would one day rival that of Siaoliouciou Island (小琉球).
Residents said they are hoping for the birth of more turtles, as another nest has shown clear signs of crawl marks, although hatchlings have yet to be spotted.
The park works with the Ocean Conservation Administration to inspect nesting sites, ensuring that eggs are not disturbed by humans, light pollution or climate change.
People should follow the “five noes” when they encounter sea turtles: Do not touch, harass, feed, chase or harm them, it said.
People who discover a stranded or struggling sea turtle can call the Coast Guard Administration’s number, 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 remove all trash to clear the path for hatchlings to crawl to the sea, they said.
Aside from working with volunteers, residents and businesses to protect the area, the park said it would continue to promote environmental education and conservation efforts.
The latest sea turtle hatching is a testament to the recovery of Kenting’s marine ecology, it added.
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