Turtles, these adorable and strange animals spend most or all of their time in the sea. The males are always found in the sea where they live their entire lives. Only the females come onto land and only to lay eggs. Normally only 1 in 1000 of these little newly hatched animals survive to adulthood. In fact, each female can lay hundreds of eggs per season.
The low number of surviving turtles is due to the many dangers they face on their journey. Even before they hatch, they are prized delicacies by various predators such as birds, lizards and crabs. When the newly hatched turtles quickly make their way down to the sea to start their new life in search of food and shelter, they are always a welcome target because the path to adulthood is lined with both natural and human threats. But those who survive and manage to reproduce complete the circle. When the new females return to the same beach where they were born to lay new eggs, the circle is closed.
How can you approach a turtle without disturbing it?
Although you might not think so, the turtle is very sensitive. It is important that you never touch a turtle. Be careful not to be in their way when they swim and never hold on to the shell. It is an animal that must be able to swim to the surface to breathe air, for example. If you are lucky and privileged to see them on land when the female is on the beach laying eggs or has just laid eggs, do not disturb or touch her. Especially not when she's on her way up to dig her hole for the eggs but also don't stand in her way back down to the water.
It is best if you observe her from a distance in silence. If she is disturbed, especially before she starts but also while she is laying eggs, she can stop and walk away. If you are going to photograph them, don't use a strong flash and if you have a weaker flash, don't point it at their eyes. With today's modern cameras, as a rule, flash is not needed, but instead choose a higher ISO number.
