Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta)
Loggerheads are protected under the Endangered Species
Act, and although scientists do not have an exact read on
their numbers, monitoring has shown that there has been
a marked decline. Environmental factors such as pollution,
loss of habitat, entanglement in commercial fishing nets, and
disorientation due to beach lighting are believed to be the
primary factors in their decline.
In November of 2015, the Conservancy presented a
fantastic program focused on this critical member of our
Big Five. Video footage of a mother loggerhead delivering
her hatchlings, along with their subsequent march to the sea
provided a fascinating look at this endangered creature. This
incredible video, produced by professional videographer
Cynthia Neal, is available at wn.com/kiawah_conservancy.
Turtle photos by Tina Schell
It is hard to believe the loggerhead is the largest of all hardshelled turtles (up to three and one-half feet long and 375 lbs)
when one has observed their hatchlings leaving the nest. I was
privileged to witness just such an event the morning I walked
the beach with our dedicated Turtle Patrol members.
The nest they were monitoring came alive with tiny
crawling babies, all focused on making their way to the
sea. For me, the most heart-warming moment arrived
when the last little turtle emerged. One of his tiny flippers
was deformed and he was having great difficulty wriggling
through the deep sand. Struggling the entire way he did
eventually reach his goal and a number of us cheered as he
finally reached the water, where he was able to swim with the
best of them!
10
Naturally Kiawah