Pictures are popping up online of a turtle in the Maldives that returned to its nesting spot. The problem is, the sandy beach was gone and a runway was in its place. Needless to say, people are hot under the collar.
The turtle, which is of an endangered species stops in the middle of the tarmac and lays the eggs anyway. I guess when it’s time, it’s time.
Sea turtles will return to the same beach where they were hatched to lay their eggs. It’s possible that this turtle is only one of many that will do this.
A Maafaru Island Council spokesman had the following to say: “Despite the construction of the runway, the frequency with which turtles visit the island for nesting purposes has not decreased.”
That may be true now but what about the future of turtles in the area?
The runway is still under construction so this might only be the beginning of bad times for the turtles. There is also a hotel and resort that have yet to be built.
People tend to be defensive about turtles, as you can clearly see in this recent episode of Blue Planet Live:
As the reporter and a conservationist were talking about protecting turtles and releasing baby turtles on the beach, you can see a seagull snatching one as it was on the way to the beach.
Liz Bonnin was the presenter and she was on Heron Island in Australia. That island is where many turtles hatch and head across the sand toward the water. She said: “We’ve watched them come up to the sands of Heron to nest and we’ve also had the great privilege of watching precious new lives, little hatchlings emerging from nests and making it in the big blue.”
The conservationist was holding a bucket as the turtles were being released.
“These hatchlings are going to spend at least a hundred years in our oceans if all goes well,” she continued. “Surely it’s our responsibility to safeguard their futures.”
Maybe live TV is not always the best idea.
It’s a difficult moment but then again, it has been happening a lot longer than we have been around. At least the seagull will live to see another day.
