Against All Odds

I've mentioned this before in every turtle hatchling discussion, but the dangers these defenseless creatures face are truly harsh - yet that's the cruel reality of nature.

I once thought their journey from the hatching site to the sea was just a few steps. But when you're on the beach, you quickly realize that what is a few steps to us is actually hundreds of strides for them. Seemingly miniscule obstacles, like rocks, footprints, tire prints or litter, are actually huge challenges for their tiny bodies.

You may also wonder (the same way I did), why we don’t just pick them up and place them directly in the sea ourselves. However, their trek is crucial for female hatchlings to imprint the location for their return in 20 to 30 years to complete their cycle as a nesting site. Another harsh reality is that even after they reach the sea, their struggles aren't over. They must survive attacks from fish below and seabirds above. It's a constant reminder that the odds are stacked against them, but also equally a reminder to show them even more love and appreciation for how resilient they are!