92 green sea turtle hatchlings return to the sea at Hon Cau
VOV.VN - Ninety-two green sea turtle hatchlings have safely reached the sea at Hon Cau Marine Protected Area, Lam Dong province, after 49 days of incubation and protection, marking a successful outcome for local marine conservation efforts.
The hatchlings emerged on the morning of October 31 from a nest relocated from Ba Hon Beach to a protected incubation site in Lien Huong commune. Of the 101 eggs laid by a female turtle on September 12, 92 hatched successfully, representing a hatching rate of around 91%.
Conservation staff helped the hatchlings return to their natural marine habitat shortly after they emerged, giving the young turtles an early start in the ocean.
A second nest at Tau Beach also produced positive results. A female turtle laid 65 eggs there on September 4, and the nest was subsequently moved to a secure incubation area. After 50 days, 61 hatchlings emerged, achieving a hatching rate of approximately 94%. They were also released into the sea soon after hatching.
The monitoring and protection of nesting sites, together with the careful relocation of vulnerable nests and the safe release of hatchlings, form part of ongoing efforts to conserve sea turtle populations and protect marine biodiversity at Hon Cau.
Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), known as vích in Vietnam, are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Females return to sandy beaches to lay their eggs, often revisiting the beaches where they hatched. The species faces threats from habitat loss, marine pollution and accidental capture in fishing gear.
In Vietnam, conservation teams at sites including Hon Cau and Con Dao patrol nesting beaches, relocate vulnerable nests to safer incubation areas when necessary, monitor eggs until they hatch and help the hatchlings reach the sea. These efforts are important because only a small proportion of hatchlings survive to adulthood, making the protection of nesting sites and young turtles vital to the species’ long-term survival.
Rare green turtle Chelonia mydas released back to the sea
VOV.VN - A 12 kg green turtle listed as an endangered species in the Red Book of Vietnam was released into its natural habitat at the Hon Cau Marine Protected Area in Lam Dong province on August 12.
