THE OLD HEGG TURTLE SANTUARY OF BEQUIA

JUNE 24, 2013

4 INCHES, 5 MONTHS OLD

Today was a busy day.  We left It's Perfect for the dock at about 10am & began a 2 1/2 miles walk across the island to
The Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary.
This sanctuary was started over 15 years ago by Orton King in an attempt to see a few more Hawksbill  hatching's live to become adults.  He checks on nests on the beaches of Bequia & gathers hatching's to raise.  He keeps the tiny turtles until they are about 3 years old & then releases back into the ocean.  At that age they are large enough to fend for themselves in the vast undersea world.  He estimates 50 percent of the turtles he releases live to become adults.

LOOK MOM, I CAN FLY

     
The Hawksbill turtle lives & breeds in the tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific & the Indian oceans.
As adults they usually weigh 100 to 150lbs. but can weigh over 200lbs.  Females return to the beach where they were born every 2 to 3 years to make nests & lay their eggs.  A just hatched turtle weighs 5 ounces & most do not survive to become adults in the wild.

The Hawksbill turtle was put on the endangered species list in 1970.  They are protected in most parts of the world but are still hunted for the meat, shell & leather in many places including some of the Caribbean.


ONE OF 23 2 TO 3 YEAR OLD
HAWKSBILL TURTLES WAITING
TO BE SET FREE IN THE OCEAN

Our visit to the sanctuary was interesting, but it is hard to see these turtles captive in a tank & not think something is wrong with keeping them from their native habitat.  If you ever visit  the island of Bequia, that is one place you should see.
Check out www.seaturtles.org/  for more information on these wonderful creatures.