A crucial part in increasing turtles‘ population is, of course, protecting the turtles’ eggs.
At night, females go to the shore where they were born and lay approximately 50 to 160 eggs, which is called a clutch. Turtle eggs are like soft ping-pong balls. While buried, they absorb moisture, and the baby turtles get nutrients from the eggshells, making the shells thinner and more fragile over time.
The sex of the hatchlings is determined by the temperature of the place where they are buried. Females can be produced at any temperature, but males can only be produced at 84°F (28.9°C).
Baby turtles hatch en masse and break through their shells using a small white tooth on their snout, which was designed for this express purpose. The reason they come out at the same time is so they will be able to collectively dig their way out of the sand and avoid predators that are eager for a quick meal.
Unfortunately, many eggs do not survive, which is why turtles lay so many eggs at once. Those that do hatch do so at night and race to be swallowed by the great seas where they will have to escape hungry animals that are much larger than they are, even before they reach adulthood. Many are snatched up by predators of the sea and air as they cross the sand into open water. The highest risk is in the first hour after entering the sea. During this time, up to 97% of the hatchlings are eaten.
Turtles also lay eggs in East Malaysia, but sadly, they are considered a delicacy, and there is a black market for collectors. There have been efforts to counter this, but the practice continues. We need to put an end to this once and for all to save these beautiful animals.
By Alicia Loh