HOW IS THE JOURNEY TO COME BACK HOME OF BABY SEA TURTLES?

 

The journey to come back home of baby sea turtles

WHAT ARE THE BEST MEMORIES THAT YOU WERE 24 YEARS OLD?

For me, The first time, I met baby sea turtles...

In the summer of 2020, I saw accidentally the registration form, which was the "IUCN Vietnam Sea Turtle Volunteer" program. I knew this program before through pieces of information on media social.  I had a little anxious mood after I registered. Luckily, Everything was ok, I passed the application round. So, I was ready to meet baby sea turtles.

PACK BAGS AND LET'S GO!!!

Through the organization, I made a few friends, who signed up for this program. We met at the Western Bus Station at 11 P.M. After that, moved to Soc Trang province by bus. Take about 6 hours, we were present at the Soc Trang at 5 A.M. We rested with a short nap, then we moved to another site by ship. Our final destination was Con Dao Island, Where also know as Con Dao National Park. In the past, Con Dao was once the site of French-run prisons for Vietnamese involved in the independence movement. The three main prison sites are open public to explore: Phu Hai, American Tiger Cages, and French Tiger Cages. I had a solemn emotion with the hero about How far the human race went to torture and kills thousands of Vietnamese fighters and revolutionary soldier. I saw the tiger cages which were cells with bars and barbed wire so prisoners were could tortured and abused like animals. Besides, Con Dao was a beautiful destination with a long beach and clear water.

                                    

                                                                   Prisoners were detention in tiger cages

BAY CANH ISLAND

After rest one day on Con Dao Island, we moved to Bay Canh Island by small ship, where we would meet baby sea turtles. Bay Canh Island was located in the east of Con Dao Island, had the largest number of pregnant sea turtles annually. Here, the main vehicle was a ship, due to moving conditions was quite hard. We must save clean water, food. Third three- generations (3G) here were quite poor. So, we hardly connect with social media. So, We gave ourselves leisure time to read books, talked to each other. Now, I remember these moments.

During the egg-laying period, Every night, The mother turtles came ashore to choose a fine sand area near the groves, use front fins to dig their net about 60-80 cm deep. The time, Sea turtle comes ashore was unstable, Depending on the sea level from 7 P.M - to 5 A.M. So, we must divide into small groups. Each group had 1-2 rangers. On the first day, I started my shift at 8 P.m. I still remembered exactly the emotion when I saw the first sea turtle. It's so amazing. The turtle moved slowly bit by bit.

Adult length about 70-80 cm

( A volunteer in the group took this picture)

The sea turtles are afraid of strong lights source like electric light, flash. If they see this light source or something dangerous, they will turn back to the sea. This was quite dangerous for them. So, we had to be really careful. After laying, the mother turtle would fill the nest to remove traces and disguise her nest.  Our mission was to wait until they turned back to the sea. We took eggs to move to an artificial incubation area for conservation. 

                                   An Artificial Incubation Area

WHY WE MUST "STOLEN" THE EGGS?

                                 A turtle laying 50-150 eggs per nest

In Vietnam, Having 5 species of sea turtles are living includes Vích (Chelonia mydas), Quản đồng (Caretta caretta), Đồi mồi dứa (Lepidochelys olivacea), Đồi mồi (Eretmochelys imbricata), Rùa da (Dermochelys coriacea). Nowadays, They were threatened by humans, who exploited their meat and egg to commercialize. In order to ensure the proportion of a high number of hatched eggs that are not inundated by seawater. We must " STOLEN" the eggs from the mother turtle.

The mother turtle turn back to the sea

After, we brought the eggs to an artificial incubation area. We put into the hatching pond cover against the sun. About 45-60 days, The eggs would hatch into baby sea turtles. After, we would bring it back to the sea.

                                             

                             The journey to their home of baby sea turtles

Look at the baby sea turtles can come back home. It's really wonderful. Luckily, I made many friends, who were involved in this program. We had beautiful memory of each other. I still remembered that: When I finished the shift at 2 A.m, I turned back to ranger camp to take a shower. I have taken a shower with cold water. God, I think I would catch a cold but I'm not. Honestly,  I usually take a shower with warm water in my home. However, you must adapt to different situations.

Having a special thing in Bay Canh Island, I can see a lot of stars in the sky. Due to, It's don't have strong lights source. The feeling, I lay on the sand and a sky full of stars. We singed each other with an old guitar. All things, I remember that.

                                         BAY CANH ISLAND ( 7/7-15/7/2020)