Visiting sea turtle scientists from NOAA NMFS' Pacific Island Regional Office joined CNMI STP staff in documenting a nest that had hatched several days earlier. The STP checks hatched nests to count the number of eggs laid, number of eggs hatched and to release any live babies stuck in the nest.
On this day, STPs Jessy Hapdei and Chris Alepuyo began excavating the nest and almost immediately uncovered live babies. After removing a large rock from the nest, thirty stragglers began their short journey across the beach to the sea. Of a total of 103 eggs that successfully hatched, thirty babies had been stuck in the nest. See more images and some video at ihaggan.com. Photo courtesy of Irene Kelly, NOAA NMFS PIRO.
