Tiny turtles take the plunge!

The 2025-26 breeding season for green sea turtles has officially begun, and it's already making waves! In a heartwarming spectacle, the Sindh Wildlife Department released 104 baby turtles into the Arabian Sea last night, marking the start of their incredible journey into the wild.

Every year, from mid-August to late February, female green turtles arrive at Karachi's beaches-especially Hawke's Bay and Sandspit-to lay their eggs. According to Ashfaq Ali Memon, head of the Marine Turtle Division, over 5,500 eggs have already been carefully placed in protected nests this season.

But this story carries a bittersweet undertone. Just two decades ago, seven species of sea turtles were found along the coasts of Sindh and Balochistan. Today, only two remain. Among the vanished is the Olive Ridley turtle, which hasn't been spotted alive on Karachi's shores since 2010-though sadly, a few have washed up lifeless.

Experts are deeply concerned about the environmental and human factors-pollution, commercial activity, and recreational disturbances-that have driven these majestic creatures away. Why the Olive Ridley abandoned Sandspit remains a mystery that continues to puzzle marine biologists.

Still, hope glimmers in the sand. Female green turtles continue to visit not only Karachi's Sandspit and Paradise Point but also Balochistan's coastal gems like Jiwani, Gwadar, Ormara, Pasni, Dheeran, French Beach, Mubarak Village, Cape Monze, and Churna Island.

The nesting ritual is a marvel of nature. Under the cover of night, the female turtle selects a spot, uses her hind flippers to bury herself in the sand, and digs a nest about 3 to 3.5 feet deep. The eggs incubate for 45 to 60 days before the hatchlings emerge and make their dash to the sea.

This seven-month cycle-from August to February-is a testament to resilience, survival, and the magic of life on Pakistan's shores.