Trinidad & Tobago Promote Turtle Hatching

Each year, from March 1 to Aug. 31, approximately 6,000 of the world’s largest marine turtles, the leatherback, make the journey to the shores of Trinidad & Tobago to lay the eggs that will carry on the next generation of this critically endangered species.

With a careful approach to the preservation of one of nature’s most ancient mariners, the leatherback conservation project in Trinidad & Tobago has grown to become the second largest nesting colony in the world. In addition, the project supports more than 80 percent of all leatherback sea turtle nesting in the insular Caribbean Sea.

During what is perhaps one of nature’s greatest examples of a “labor of love,” these massive creatures emerge from their natural element and venture onto land where they are at the mercy of potential poachers.

Easily disturbed by the presence of man, the turtles will turn and head back to the sea if hampered in any way during this sensitive stage of the reproduction process. A female leatherback will return to the exact beach of her birth, or one within the region, to dig a chamber up to three feet deep where she will lay as many as 100 eggs. Approximately two months later, young, one-inch hatchlings surface from the egg chamber and begin the journey to their natural habitat.

As one of the most important nesting locations in the world, conservationists and volunteers can be seen observing the rituals of these gentle giants and the crossing of newly birthed hatchlings to the ocean.

For many of these young turtles, survival to adulthood will be perilous as many will fall prey to birds and crabs, while others perish after being entangled in fish lines or after ingesting ocean debris. Popular beaches to turtle watch include Matura, Manzanilla and Grand Riviere in Trinidad and Turtle Beach and Englishman’s Bay in Tobago.