Baby sea turtles from California’s first-ever recorded nests make adorable dash into Pacific

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The eggs were collected Sept. 25 and placed in incubators beneath sand inside a secure, temperature- and humidity-controlled room.

California’s newest beachgoers are barely bigger than a handful, but they’ve already made history.

Olive ridley sea turtle hatchlings have emerged from the first-ever confirmed natural sea turtle nests on the US West Coast, making an adorable dash across the sand and into the Pacific.

“We’re pleased that some sea turtle eggs were viable and have not only already successfully hatched, but the hatchlings have also made their journey across the sand to the ocean,” said Dr. Lance Adams, Aquarium of the Pacific director of veterinary services.

The breakthrough began in mid-September, when two nests were discovered in Seal Beach and Huntington Beach.

Fearing tropical storms could wash away the eggs, federal officials and local partners, led by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, arranged for biologists to move them to the Aquarium of the Pacific.

The eggs were collected Sept. 25 and placed in incubators beneath sand inside a secure, temperature- and humidity-controlled room.

The precaution proved worthwhile, as both beaches later experienced high surf and standing water near the nesting sites following Tropical Storm Rachel.

Olive ridleys are among the world’s smallest sea turtles, typically found in tropical waters across the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. Their Pacific breeding colonies in Mexico are listed as endangered, while other populations are classified as threatened.

Why the turtles chose Southern California remains a mystery, although the unusual nesting activity could have significant implications for the species and local conservation efforts.

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