Itsamia biosphere & Green turtles
This is the unique place in the indian Ocean where green turttles come all year around to make their eggs on the beach
They follow the tide, coming on beach at high tide and going into the water at low tide
You can see the baby turttle getting out of the sun to try joining the water
A very unique experience to discover in Itsamia beach
The Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is a species of large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. The common name of this species refers to the usually green fat found beneath its carapace, not to the color of its carapace, which is olive to black. Like other sea turtles, Green sea turtles migrate long distances between feeding grounds and hatching beaches. Many islands worldwide are known as Turtle Islands due to Green sea turtles nesting on their beaches. Females crawl out on beaches, dig nests, and lay eggs during the night. Later, hatchlings emerge and scramble into the water. Those that reach maturity may live to 90 years in the wild.
Green sea turtles spend almost all their lives underwater and come out of the water only when nesting. They are not considered social but may congregate offshore or during the breeding season. Some individuals may migrate together. Although they move quickly in the ocean, on land Green sea turtles are slow and also defenseless. Males hardly ever leave the water. Females leave the sea only to lay eggs and nest only at night. Green turtles swim underwater for approximately 4 to 5 minutes during routine activity and come up to breathe at the surface for 1 to 3 seconds. They can sleep underwater for a few hours at a time but stay beneath the surface for a much shorter period when diving for food or escaping from predators. Although green sea turtles can’t pull their heads inside their shells, the adults have protection from predators due to their shells, their large size, and the thick scaly skin covering their heads and necks.
