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This national park is the longest undeveloped natural barrier island in the world, with 70 miles of coastal prairies, beaches, and sand dunes.
It's about a 25 mile drive from town to the park, so a 50 mile round trip for me. But I've been doing it for years, sometimes twice or three times a week, especially in the summer. And it's totally worth it for me, just to see these:
These are Kemp's ridley sea turtles, the most endangered species of sea turtles in the world. They are also the smallest and rarest of all the sea turtles.
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| Park Ranger holds Kemp's ridley sea turtle hatchling at Padre Island National Park, 14 July 2018, Sat. The hatchlings are the size of a credit card or an OREO cookie with a head and flippers. |
Padre Island National Seashore is the secondary site for this species as a nesting ground. Nuevo Rancho in Mexico is the primary nesting site. In a cooperative and collaborative effort between scientists, citizens, and volunteers between the two nations and from all over the world, the critically endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle is being protected and aided in its recovery. The work is hard, ongoing, and necessary for the survival of the species. And the public's support is essential in this crucial work.
Every summer, during hatching season, the Padre Island National Seashore holds hatchling releases, sometimes three in a week, and the public is invited. For free! It's one of my fave events in the summer, and I've been going for years.
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| Dr Donna Shaver, head of the Sea Turtle Recovery Division at Padre Island National Seashore, July 2013. As of July 2018, she has been involved in the program for 38 years, saving the endangered sea turtle species. |
It's always heartwarming and exciting to see the tiny hatchlings, the size of a credit card, work their way across the sand and make it to the sea. I was there last Friday, the 13th of July 2018. And I went again the following morning to witness another release. Here are the fotos:
The Saturday release was special, because it was the 40th anniversary of the program to save the Kemp's ridley sea turtle. And there was a whole day of events and celebration planned, so I had to attend. Besides, it's baby turtles! Who doesn't want to see cute little baby turtles crawling to the sea?
I'll share more fotos and discuss the event in the next few days. Until then, enjoy the baby turtle hatchlings, and wish them good luck. It's a dangerous and perilous world for baby (and adult) sea turtles. And they need our help to survive and thrive.
