INSPIRATION all phases of the moon . Turtle hatchlings dig out of their nest at the same time , a process that can take several days . They leave the nest as a group at night and head directly for the sea .
Sea turtles are born with the instinct to move toward the brightest direction . On a natural beach , this direction is the light of the open horizon . Their first trek “ imprints ” their home beach into the hatchlings . Once grown , turtles return to create their nests on the same beach .
A sea turtle ’ s average lifespan is from 40 to 60 years , with adults ranging in weight from the smaller Kemp ’ s at approximately 100 pounds to the leatherback which can reach up to 1,300 pounds .
Only about one in 1,000 turtles survives to adulthood . Hatchlings die of dehydration if they don ’ t make it to the ocean fast enough . Birds , crabs and other animals also prey on young turtles .
In partnership with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources ( SCDNR ), the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Care Center works to rescue , rehabilitate and release sea turtles that become stranded along the South Carolina coast . Located in the Aquarium , the Care Center admits 20 to 30 sea turtles each year . Many of these animals are in critical condition .
According to SCDNR , during the past 10 years , the average number of sea turtles stranded on South Carolina beaches each year is 128 . Of these , roughly 10 percent are alive and successfully transported to the Sea Turtle Care Center . To date , the South Carolina Aquarium has successfully rehabilitated and released 249 sea turtles .
Given the stable year-round temperatures in the Sunshine State , the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and other local organizations often partner with groups looking to release rehabilitated turtles into warmer waters , including the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston , SC .
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