After a gestation period of about two months, the turtle eggs begin to hatch. Hatching often occurs at night on Bonaire’s beaches.
Sea turtles use Bonaire’s beaches for hatchling.
Turtles hatchling on Bonaire presents a remarkable spectacle of nature. The nesting process begins when female turtles, often at night to avoid predators and the heat of the day, make their way onto the beaches of Bonaire. They laboriously dig nests in the sand with their flippers, where they lay their eggs before covering them back with sand to conceal the nest site from predators and return to the sea. After a gestation period of about two months, the turtle eggs begin to hatch. The emergence of the hatchlings is often occurring at night. This natural timing reduces the risk of predation from birds and other predators, giving the tiny turtles a fighting chance to reach the relative safety of the ocean. The journey from nest to sea is perilous and fraught with challenges. Predators such as birds and crabs are just the first hurdle; upon reaching the water, the young turtles must evade aquatic predators, navigate to the open sea, and begin their lifelong journey of survival.
Casper Douma Photography
“Bon dia tur hende i bon bini na dushi Boneiru!”
My name is Casper Douma and I am a photographer. Since 2014 I’ve been living on this beautiful island, surrounded by a fringing reef. At first glance, you may see mostly cacti and drought, but Bonaire is a little gem if you get to know it better. I would like to take you on one of my photography tours to show you all the special places of Bonaire. In small groups of maximum 4 people I give you a unique look at the beauty of Bonaire. Became curious? Take a look at my website! I wish you a lot of fun on beautiful Bonaire.”