Sea Turtle Nest Found On Beach, 15 Hatchlings
The beach at Alexandra Battery in St. George’s is currently closed to public use as a turtle nest was discovered yesterday on the beach, and 15 hatchlings have been found.
A spokesperson said, “The Department of Parks wishes to inform the public that the beach at Alexandra Battery, located in St. George’s, is currently closed to public use as a turtle nest was discovered yesterday in the middle of the beach. The beach will be closed until at least Wednesday 19th August 2015.”
“Staff from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo are currently stationed at the beach to monitor the hatchlings and, along with Parks rangers, will advise anyone who visits the site of the closure.
“Maintenance staff from the Department of Parks have been instructed not to rake the beach until receiving clearance from the Department of Conservation Services.
“The public will be informed when the beach is reopened for use. In total 15 hatchlings have been found – 12 of which have been released to sea.”
Update: The Ministry added that, “Belco also assisted yesterday by turning off a street light which was causing an issue with the hatchlings navigating to the water. Belco sent an emergency crew last evening to insure stray light was avoided. BAMZ would like to thank them for their support.”
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Category: All, Environment, News
Always nice to hear good news!
Great story and really heart-warming to see BELCO helping out. I hope these turtles live a long life in Bermuda and do not have their lives cut short by trash or fishing lines like what we read in the prior story today!
Nice work BELCO. You guys are heroes during hurricanes and when the waters are calm.
Listen! I think that it is a great idea to close the beach at Alexandra Battery in St. George’s due to a turtle nest being discovered! To me that’s what i call being proactive! The main issue that i have with this article is the fact that your gonna tell the whole world exactly where the turtle nest was discovered! Nobody had to know why the beach was closed!!! Just close it! This news could have been kept confidential! The last thing we need now is some fools going there from now on and disturbing the turtle nesting spots or even worst stealing the turtle eggs!! NOW that would be a total DISASTER!! So whoever had the DUMB idea to expose the exact location of the nest all over the media DEFINITELY didn’t think it through! Actually they probably did more HARM than GOOD especially if the wrong people hear about this! Someone should have thought about that before they told the whole world! “SAD!”
I’d argue the opposite – if notice wasn’t given, some people may just come across the beach anyway and screw the environment up. This will at least encourage people to be watchful and keep an eye out for anyone who may go on the beach.
There is no reason not to tell people. There are People from the Aquarium that are doing 24 hour round the clock duties to make sure it is all goes ok
Excellent news!!
Good news, well done Govt and well done Belco!
WELL DONE TURTEL, how wonderfull that a turtle would nest on a beach ib Bermuda.
As a very young child i remember them nesting on Warwick long bay and then we were told do touch dont touch.Have never seen any since as the fishermen did net them all.
I hope everyone LEAVES THEM ALONE! That is the only way a sea turtle population can be restablished.
Why were all 15 not released?
I know juveniles spend their younger lives here but how frequently do mature adults come here to lay eggs?
Not sure of the exact years but I believe the adults will eventually return to the same beach to lay their own eggs. In the past this would have been a common occurrence. Unfortunately, we managed to decimate the turtle populations here just as we did the Cahows. Many groups and individuals have worked tirelessly to try and revive these populations. This is incredibly good news and bodes well for the future.
Turtles actually return to the spot they was born to lay eggs.
I see lots of turtles between Landfall and Bay Corner daily. If it is not a Protected Area, it should be looked at.
Wonderful news.