This is the heartwarming moment endangered turtle hatchlings swim out to sea at low tide for the first time in their lives in Australia.
The episode took place on Raine Island, which is located on the outer edges of the Great Barrier Reef in north-eastern Australia, which is home to the world’s largest remaining population of green turtles.
A government worker helping to oversee the hatchlings says in the footage that the tiny turtle she is holding is no doubt one of the first of the season to hatch.
The footage then shows a small cluster of turtle hatchlings making their way out to sea at low tide.
Another person can be seen in the footage explaining, with a large number of turtles in the background, that they have just completed an all-night shift overseeing the hatchlings.
She explains that the large number of turtles seen in the background are currently stuck on the reef because the tide is low, adding that they are waiting for the tide to rise again before they can go for a swim.
The Government of Queensland, whose staff oversaw the hatchlings, said in a statement: ‘Some of the first turtle hatchlings of the season have emerged at Raine Island, with Ranger Tina giving this one a helping hand to the water’s edge. Ninety percent of the northern Great Barrier Reef green turtles nest at Raine Island, with most of the adult turtles seen here having just laid eggs.”
‘That’s thousands of eggs in just one night!
Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are listed as endangered on the IUCN’s Red List of Endangered Species, largely due to human behaviour, with threats including hunting, poaching, habitat destruction, pollution, and ending up as catch in fishing nets.
Raine Island is also home to one of the oldest European structures in Australia, a stone beacon that was built in 1842. The island was named after Captain Thomas Raine (1793-1860), who was an English seafarer who discovered the island.