300 baby turtles released into sea after successful hatching

SWD marks their life journey after successful hatching from green turtle eggs

KARACHI:

The Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD) has released 300 baby turtles into the Arabian Sea, marking the beginning of their life journey after hatching from eggs laid by green turtles on the Hawke's Bay beach this breeding season, according to Ashfaq Memon, the in-charge of marine turtle conservation at SWD.

This year, as many as 8,000 female turtles have been preserved in nests for breeding, with a target of 30,000 eggs set for the season. The hatching period for these eggs ranges between 45 and 60 days.

The hatchlings released into the sea as part of the SWD's conservation efforts were only one to two days old. Memon said that about 90 female turtles have returned to the sea after laying their eggs at Hawke's Bay beach.

Each female lays between 80 and 110 eggs, mostly during the night. SWD staff places the eggs in sand nests covered with iron grills in an attempt to protect them from predators.

Female turtles are tagged to monitor their movements, Memon said, adding that they have set a goal of tagging 30,000 turtles this year. Many other turtle species in Pakistan have become extinct due to several factors.

The breeding season for green turtles runs from mid-August to mid-February. Since 1975, the department has released around 900,000 hatchlings into the sea.

These conservation efforts show the SWD's commitment to protecting marine life and ensuring the survival of green turtles in the region.