Indian Forest Service officer Dr. PM Dhakate shared a mesmerizing video revealing a remarkable secret – how sea turtles navigate vast oceans using the moon and stars!
But their journey is fraught with danger. In his tweet, Dr. Dhakate highlights the harsh reality: only 1 in 1000 hatchlings survives to adulthood, threatened by both predators and human-made dangers like coastal lights that disrupt their celestial compass.
Despite these challenges, these resilient creatures undertake epic journeys, swimming for miles across the sea. And for some, the call of their birthplace is strong – they return to the very same beach where they first emerged, completing the circle of life. “The turtles that do grow up swim many miles across the sea, and some will even come back to the same beach where they start the cycle of life once again,” Mr. Dhakate wrote.
Sea turtles use the moon and stars to find their way, but lights from buildings and streets can confuse them. Out of every 1000 baby turtles, only 1 usually lives to be an adult because of dangers from animals and people. The turtles that do grow up swim many miles across the… pic.twitter.com/fnKOIOcNFe
— Dr. PM Dhakate (@paragenetics) January 15, 2024
