Thousands of sea turtles laid their eggs on Nicaragua’s coast over the weekend below the watchful eye of the military, which protects the nests from attainable predators—together with people.
The olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) migrate for lengthy distances to spawn between July and January within the Pacific coast wildlife refuges of La Flor and Chacocente, areas the place the endangered species is protected towards predators that plunder its nests.
La Flor seashore, in San Juan del Sur, is a vacationer vacation spot in southern Nicaragua. It is a perfect location for the olive ridley turtle to nest attributable to its tropical climate and heat waters, which encourage copy, in response to environmentalists.
The turtle species, which as an grownup measures a little bit greater than half a meter (1.5 ft) lengthy and weighs about 38 kilograms (84 kilos), can lay about 90 eggs in 24 hours. The incubation course of takes 40 to 70 days.
Authorities at Nicaragua’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment estimate that for each 100 turtles that hatch, 90 enter the ocean, however solely three make it to maturity.
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Olive ridley turtles are seen on the seashore in La Flor Wildlife Refugee in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, throughout nesting season.
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A member of Nicaragua’s military carries an olive ridley turtle after she laid her eggs on the seashore in La Flor Wildlife Refugee in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.
The environmental authorities are implementing a sea turtle conservation plan in partnership with the military to forestall neighboring communities from raiding the nests.
The olive ridley, distinguished by its olive inexperienced coloration, is one in every of 5 turtle species that nest in Nicaragua, along with the inexperienced, hawksbill, loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles.
© 2021 AFP
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Thousands of turtles lay eggs on Nicaraguan coast (2021, December 7)
retrieved 7 December 2021
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