TINY TURTLES BEGIN SURVIVAL RACE
HUNDREDS of tiny green sea turtles have wriggled out of their Fitzroy Island nest and started their new lives on the Great Barrier Reef.
Fitzroy Island Resort marine biologists Jen Moloney and Azri Saparwan saw about 700 6cm hatchlings scurry into the Coral Sea overnight.
“I was lying on the beach watching the moon and the fire flies and turned around just in time to see a tiny hatchling followed by an eruption of baby turtles burrowing through the sand,” Ms Moloney said.
“The hatchlings were … racing for the water.”
The biologist duo has been monitoring seven turtle nests across the island which were laid by Yasi, a green turtle who is believed to be 70 years old.
Ms Moloney said the hatchlings had a good chance of surviving.