Turtles are an ancient species of the world, having been around some 110 million years, and year after year four different species grace the shores of the Cayman Islands to lay eggs. From May to November, Green, Hawksbill, Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles are known to nest on the sandy beaches of Cayman. They will make their way up onto the beach during the night to dig a nest and lay eggs before making their way back to the ocean, never to see the eggs hatch.
The baby turtles will hatch roughly two months later and head back to the water. Sea turtles must escape natural predators, like birds, from the moment they break through the sand and then once they make it into the ocean they have a one in 1000 to one in 10,000 chance of survival to reach adulthood.
Last year, over 800 nests were tallied on Cayman shores and the Department of Environment is dedicated to keeping these numbers healthy (click link for turtle info). These endangered species are protected by local law and fines are substantial. If you find a nest while walking the beach, or are lucky enough to see the process, stay back from the turtle or nest and contact DoE. The tracks can be used to find the nesting areas and they are monitored by staff and volunteers until the baby turtles are hatched.
Turtle-friendly lighting can help the newly hatched turtles find their path back to the water and keeping the beaches clean and free of plastic and fishing line are essential for their survival. For more information or to volunteer, you can contact DoE directly.