The offspring of a rescued turtle had to, in turn, get a helping hand on Thursday morning when they got stuck in some roots near their nest and were unable to get to the sea.
North Side resident Dean Miller, who spotted the hatchlings’ mother when she got in trouble back in September and assisted with her rescue, was on hand when the Department of Environment turtle team came to the aid of a number of her 96 babies.
“Joe [Roche] from the DoE turtle nesting team was there this morning and did the excavation to assist with the hatchlings and they’re to be released tonight [Thursday,]” he said.
He added that he had been “elated to have had the good fortune to find the mother in time to help her”.
“Watching the video today of the hatchlings is just a very awesome experience,” he said.
The DoE, responding to Cayman Compass queries, said, the hatchlings are the babies from the turtle that got stuck under the deck a couple of months ago at the North Side property that Miller took care of.
“When the team went to do their routine excavation of the hatched nest, they counted 96 total hatchlings, 14 of which, were stuck in some roots and unable to emerge,” the DoE said.
DOE deputy Director Tim Austin, in a comment to the Compass on the rescue, welcomed their safe escape.
“We are immensely thankful for our dedicated team of turtle scientists who not only rescued a mother turtle who found herself trapped under a deck after laying her nest, but months later were also able to rescue 14 of her hatchlings trapped under roots. We’re thrilled one of the last remaining turtle nests of the season will make it safely out to sea and that the mother will be able to return to Cayman shores to nest again in the future,” Austin said.
The hatchlings will be released into the ocean under the cover of darkness to guard against predators and ensure their survival.
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