Green Hatchling Marathon at Mayan Dune

15 days after the nest hatched, this single green sea turtle hatchling emerged from a nest near the (soon to be destroyed) Mayan Beach Club Dune less than 50 feet from the water. The hatchling was lured southwest by the lights of POA (Point of Americas) and then to a series of other lights until it died of exhaustion. The total distance traveled was 570 yards. At 20 hatchling steps per foot, that equals approximately 34,200 steps. To equate that using human steps, it would be the equivalent of walking about 17 miles, through the desert, with no water, minutes after birth.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Green
• Hatchling
• at
• Mayan
• beach
• club
• la
• coquina
• point
• of
• americas
• lago
• mar
• ocean
• lane
• villas
• dead
• sea
• turtle
• seaturtleop.org
• protection