We drove down to Ras al Hadd and stayed at the Turtle Beach Resort. This place was great for several families to get together snorkeling, playing in the tide pools, eating a late dinner but all of us went to bed EARLY. Had to get ready for the next day.
Up at 0300, BEFORE the crack of dawn with the kids in tow. They were excited too and didn't complain too much.
We saw several Green Sea Turtles laying their eggs in the sand.
Females breed every 2-3 years for 20 years, returning to the SAME beach they were hatched. Males are born closer to the sea due to incubation temperature and females are born on the warmer back part of the beaches. Out of 10,000 eggs, two or three turtles survive up to maturity.
Females do not mate every year, but when they do, they come ashore often- as many as five times every 15 days to make nests in the sand and lay eggs.
Unfortunately, not all of the hatchlings reach the ocean. Many are snatched up by hungry crabs and other predators along the way or become lost and die. In addition, some are eaten by sharks and other carnivorous fishes while at sea. Only a few baby turtles from each nest will survive into adulthood. While we stood there in the dark, we saw a silhouette of a fox sniffing around the mounds of sand.
Green sea turtles are reptiles whose ancestors evolved on land and returned to the sea to live about 150 million years ago. They are one of the few species so ancient that they watched the dinosaurs evolve and become extinct.
Evan found this little guy going the opposite direction of the ocean.
So the Rescue Crew picked up this lost turtle and returned it to the waters.
What a great feeling to possibly help the survival for one little turtle.
What a fantastic way to start off the morning. Now, time for breakfast!
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