– LET THEM FLOW –
The last part of the turtle watching code of conduct.
It is vital for the survival of hatchling turtles!
Hatchlings take a geo-imprint of their location when they first emerge from their nests, meaning in 20-30 years time, when they have reached breeding age, these turtles return to their birthplace.
Being born underground means hatchlings can swallow some sand in their initial climb to the surface. The dash to the ocean gives these hatchlings time to empty the sand from their lungs.
Unfortunately, carrying hatchlings to the water can disorientate them greatly and puts them at even more risk when they’re in the ocean.
They need to do the crawl themselves to clear their lungs, get their muscles working and take a geomagnetic imprint of the beach, so they know to return here to nest 20-30 years later!
Plus, it’s ILLEGAL to handle them.
So, keep your torches off, leave your hands in your pockets and keep their path clear.
