Every sea turtle is a living miracle. These reptiles have low chances of making it to adulthood as only one out of every 1 000 born will reach maturity. When a turtle hatches from its egg on the beach, it must traverse the long distance back to the water to begin its aquatic life. At this time, they’re vulnerable to predators. Born with a soft shell, turtle hatchlings move slowly and clumsily across the sand, making them an easy target for carnivorous birds. But this isn’t the only threat they face.
With sea levels rising due to increasing global temperatures, the beaches where turtle eggs are laid are vulnerable to flooding in high tides. Warmer sand also leads to more females being born as their sex is determined by the temperature of the sand. This uneven ratio endangers their population numbers.
The females that live to adulthood will return to the same beach they were born on using a magnetic imprint. Here, they will give birth to a clutch of 100 eggs, and each hatchling will embark on its journey back home. As one of the oldest species, sea turtles have been swimming the world’s oceans for over 100 million years. In the face of the climate crisis, we all have a part to play in ensuring they live for millions more.
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