How eggs-citing! Rare sea turtle makes history as beachgoers spot her two nests
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By NOOR QURASHI, NEWS REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
A rare sea turtle has made history after digging up sand to lay eggs off the coast of America.
The reptile was spotted on the U.S West Coast, local authorities said.
Three days later, an olive ridley turtle - maybe the same one - laid eggs on September 19, a few miles away near the Huntington Beach Pier in Orange County.
Footage shows the creature rummaging amidst the sand in an attempt to keep her eggs warm before scuttling back to the sea.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's West Coast Fisheries division said on the West Coast appearance: 'This is the first-ever recorded natural nesting for any sea turtle species.'
Olive ridley turtles are the smallest of sea turtles, with adults weighing up to 45.3 kilograms. NOAA said they're found worldwide but primarily in the tropical waters of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans.
A rare sea turtle has made history after digging up sand to lay eggs off the coast of America
The reptile and eggs were spotted on the U.S West Coast, local authorities said
The nesting site is now being protected
The first nesting spot was near Seal Beach on September 16 followed by the discovery at Huntington Beach. Both sites were subsequently fenced off. Incubation typically lasts 45 to 60 days, NOAA said.
'We're excited about it,' Trevor McDonald, marine safety chief at the Huntington Beach Fire Department said.
Lifeguards patrolling at night saw a turtle digging in the sand and thought 'maybe this turtle is sick. We just don't see this very often,' Mr McDonald added. 'Then they observed the turtle starting to lay eggs.'
Heidi Stephen said her 9-year-old son, Jude, begged her to take him to Huntington Beach to see the nest Tuesday. 'It's so magical,' Ms Stephen said.
George Zamora said he hopes the eggs can survive any impact from tides, storms and popular beach events.
'Let them do their thing,' Mr Zamora added. 'Let them be born.'
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