Children from Fukushima and Okinawa release baby loggerhead turtles

Children from Fukushima and Okinawa release baby loggerhead turtles

Children watch turtles hatching at the seaside in Ogimi Village, July 28.


August 4, 2011 Yoshiya Hokama of Ryukyu Shimpo

At around 9:00pm on July 28, between 20 and 30 loggerhead turtles were identified as having hatched near the seashore at Ogimi Village. Turtle eggs had been deposited in the grassy area near the shore, and because many of the hatched baby turtles had become entangled in vines and were struggling to get to the sea Kunio Komesu, a member of Japan Sea Turtle Association, and local children, helped to get the hatched turtles to the sea.

Children from Nishi Aizu Town, in Fukushima Prefecture who were staying at Ogimi Village also watched the hatching and helped to move the baby turtles to the sea. The children from Fukushima and the local boys and girls shouted with joy as they watched the baby turtles going into the sea.

Towa Hasegawa, sixth grade pupil of Onomoto Elementary School, Nishi Aizu Town, was excited to say, “The little turtles have been coming out their eggs by themselves. It was great to see the turtles going back towards the sea by themselves. It was a new experience for me and so it was a lot fun.”

Baby turtles hatched in the sand at the seaside of Ogimi Village, July 28.

Baby turtles hatched in the sand at the seaside of Ogimi Village, July 28.


Komesu said that baby turtles are sensitive to light. On their way towards the sea they will sometimes change course and move in the direction of the national highway when exposed to the light from a street lamp, so some will die before reaching the sea.”

(English Translation by T&CT, Mark Ealey）

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