Mad as a Marine Biologist

High-res Photo by Karen Chen Keeping a respectful distance from a huge mamma Green Turtle after a whole nights efforts. She lay two decoy nests before finally settling down to business. We could hear her panting from the effort, and the force with which she was digging the sand was painful. If you ever get a chance to witness this, here’s a few pointers: Be patient, she’s gonna be there a long time. Bring a jumper, it’s likely to be in the middle of the night. That’s cold no matter where you are. Keep a safe distance, that sand is painful, plus if you disturb her, she won’t come back to the same beach to nest next time. Think of it as bad bedside manner in a hospital. And she always comes back to the same beach from which she was born, so don’t mess with that. Don’t use any torches. That’ll disorientate her. She’s relying on the moon or lack of it. Plus they don’t got good eyes anyway. Silence. Observe it. Under no circumstances ‘ride’ her on her way back to the sea, as they did in Terengganu, Malaysia, which, coincidentally, no longer has Sea Turtles nesting on it’s beaches.   

Photo by Karen Chen

Keeping a respectful distance from a huge mamma Green Turtle after a whole nights efforts. She lay two decoy nests before finally settling down to business. We could hear her panting from the effort, and the force with which she was digging the sand was painful.

If you ever get a chance to witness this, here’s a few pointers:

  • Be patient, she’s gonna be there a long time. Bring a jumper, it’s likely to be in the middle of the night. That’s cold no matter where you are.
  • Keep a safe distance, that sand is painful, plus if you disturb her, she won’t come back to the same beach to nest next time. Think of it as bad bedside manner in a hospital. And she always comes back to the same beach from which she was born, so don’t mess with that.
  • Don’t use any torches. That’ll disorientate her. She’s relying on the moon or lack of it. Plus they don’t got good eyes anyway.
  • Silence. Observe it.
  • Under no circumstances ‘ride’ her on her way back to the sea, as they did in Terengganu, Malaysia, which, coincidentally, no longer has Sea Turtles nesting on it’s beaches.   

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