Sea turtles in Seychelles
Seychelles isn’t just a paradise for humans. Thanks to a focus on sustainability and reducing the impact of luxury resorts, many species of wildlife are also thriving on these picture-perfect Indian Ocean islands.
Some of the most memorable creatures you may encounter include hawksbill and green turtles. Seeing them in the water whilst you’re snorkeling or diving will leave you with an impression of grace and beauty; seeing them on land, however, can be deeply moving.
Each year, during October and November, the female sea turtles laboriously make their way up the beaches to nest. This involves using their back flippers to dig a hole in the sand, before laying their ping pong ball-sized eggs and covering the nest over. They then head back down to the sea, where they are once again transformed into graceful marine voyagers. That’s also the end of their parental involvement – from then on, the next generation of turtles are on their own.
Research and protection
On many of the beaches where turtles nest, volunteers and conservation workers monitor the nesting creatures to get a sense of how populations are changing over time. Also, because the female turtles nest above the high-water mark, they can sometimes become trapped by vegetation or fallen coconut palms. In these cases, a helping hand may be needed to get them moving again.
As guest in Seychelles, you can take advantage of the opportunity to join a beach patrol in search of nesting turtles (and along the way, help with collecting any ocean plastic you find on the beach). Hawksbill turtles tend to nest in the day, with green turtles coming ashore under cover of darkness.
Close encounters of the turtle kind
While they are digging their nests and laying their eggs, sea turtles enter into a sort of trance. They are so focused on their essential task that they pay very little attention to what is going on around them.
This is your opportunity to approach relatively closely and watch this fascinating procedure – an ancient ritual that has been repeated on beaches around the Indian Ocean since time immemorial.
A place of sanctuary
Spending time with nesting sea turtles is a reminder of the importance of Seychelles for ocean wildlife. In addition to the islands being a sanctuary for people in search of beauty and tranquility, Seychelles are a vital refuge for birds and sea turtles, while the warm azure waters around them are filled with an incredible variety of colorful reef fish.
If your Seychelles Private Ocean Island vacation happens to coincide with sea turtle nesting season, you may find unusual tracks on the beach – a telltale sign that turtles have been there. Of course, if you only find one set of tracks, then the turtle is still on the beach.
Sea Turtle Hatchlings
In January, there are often very different (and much smaller) tracks across the sand. That’s because this is the time of year when the turtle hatchlings emerge from the nests and head down to the sea.
They are genetically pre-programed to aim for the brightest, lowest horizon – the light of the moon reflected from the breakers at the edge of the water. To avoid confusing the hatchlings, resorts in Seychelles are increasingly using screened-off lights or avoiding illuminating the beach at night.
It’s just one more example of how luxury island tourism and conservation happily coexist in Seychelles. To learn more, contact Private Ocean Islands today.