More than 100 infant turtles got successfully hatched on a Singapore beach before entering the sea, according to reports. The baby turtles are known as Hawksbill turtles, and at present, the Hawksbill turtle is a critically endangered species. Hence, the latest hatching of more than 100 Hawksbill turtles has given some good news for the scientists and environmental enthusiasts who were worried about the dwindling Hawksbill turtle population.
A nest consisting of Hawksbill turtle was traced in Sentosa, a famous resort island to the south of Singapore’s main island. So, to protect the eggs in the nest from predators, a barrier was erected, and the officials regularly inspected the Hawksbill eggs, as stated by Sentosa Developmental Corporation. As per the latest reports, on Friday, 106 eggs hatched and after the officials carried out some tests, the infant Hawksbill turtles were released into the sea.
The latest hatch marked for the third time that the Hawksbill turtle eggs hatched on the beaches of Singapore since August. But the important thing is that after a gap of eight years, the Hawksbill turtles hatched on Sentosa, as reported by the Straits Times newspaper. The name Hawksbill comes from the fact that this group of turtles has narrow pointed beaks. The Hawksbill turtles are present throughout the tropical oceans of the world and are mostly found across coral reefs.
Due to the increasing human-made activities like pollution, coastal developments poaching and fishing, the natural habitat of the Hawksbill turtles have been damaged, and the population has decreased significantly. These turtles are an easy target for hunters and poachers. They use their body parts to make turtle soup, and also their shells are used in powered form In Jelly dessert. At present, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List categorizes the Hawksbill turtles as critically endangered. Also, the critically endangered species has been listed under the Appendix one of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species that means it is illegal to import, export, kill, capture, or harass these turtles.
