Landaa Giraavaru Hatchlings

Green Turtle Hatchlings, CM.N034.126 to 130, hatched 19 October 2017, Landaa Giraavaru, Maldives

126 Machiato – 22g/4.7cm;  deceased.
127 Smash –    23g/4.9cm; 104g/8.2cm (Dec); 471g/14.0cm (Mar); 2.2kg/26.7cm (Oct); 2.7kg/28.8cm (release). 
128 Chilli –   29g/5.1cm;  82g/7.9cm (Dec); 307g/12.8cm (Mar); 1.3kg/21.8cm (Oct); 1.9kg/24.5cm (Dec); 
129 Pepper –   23g/4.9cm;  58g/7.3cm (Dec); 218g/12.2cm (Mar); deceased.
130 Rocky –    28g/5.1cm;  deceased.

During August 2017, a green sea turtle laid a nest at Landaa Giraavaru. The next morning, staff found the tracks and were able to locate the nest. After 60 days, our team of Biologists excavated the nest to find the hatchlings were tired from struggling to emerge from the sand. Out of the total 105 eggs, sadly just 5 produced healthy hatchlings. Among the rest, we counted 4 with development failure and 96 without embryos (unfertilised). It is difficult to explain this low development rate; it could be from the nesting turtle’s side or from the beach incubation conditions.

Unhatched turtle embryo

The five lucky hatchlings were brought back to our Centre for emergency treatment, and then transferred to Kuda Huraa.

Sadly, Machiato passed away on 15 December due to a tissue problem in his flippers. Rocky died on 9 December; he stopped eating and was not showing interest.
We are please to report that Smash, Chilli and Pepper are growing fast, playing around with Tina with whom they share the pool. They can dive after their food and are really active.

March 2018

Smash, Chilli and Pepper are often seen resting at the bottom of their pool, eating as much as they can and playing around with Franklin. Smash and Chilli presented an eye infection for which they are getting treatment every day.

September 2018

On 23 September, Pepper was sadly found unresponsive in our pool after becoming trapped in the water outflow system.  

Turtle hatchling growth rates over time (weight in grammes)

October 2018

Smash & Chilli have graduated to our larger pool now. Both siblings continue to grow, but Smash (CM.127) is much larger; Chilli enjoys the occasional jellyfish and likes to play around with the other turtles.

14 November 2018 … Release Day!

Smash was released at our Managers’ Cocktail event, from Kuda Huraa Beach. Our little one took a minute to realise she was at the beach, but she soon started swimming out in the lagoon, heading for a tasty sea grass snack! Bon voyage, Smash. 🙂