IT TAKES 30 years for a female turtle to mature and be ready to return to the beach from which it hatched to lay its own eggs. Times change, that idyllic empty stretch of sand is now full of sunbeds, cars and dogs.
Chris has run the Blue Beach bar on Curium beach since 1975. He says then there were three turtles that nested regularly, now there is just one and this year she almost didn’t make it.
About a week ago around midnight, as the last customers were enjoying the warmth of the evening, she dragged herself out of the sea to be confronted by amazed customers downing their Keo and meze. Not knowing what to do, they decided to carry her back to the sea, all 50kg of her.
Chris feared that this year his “old friend” might not return again to lay her brood. Indeed, touching her was the worst thing they could have done. Luckily, she persevered, moved away from the bar area and over the course of three nights laid her eggs. Chris and his team are guarding her offspring and hoping that the surrounding sunbathers will do the same.
Unfortunately, turtles suffer at the hands of beach lovers who don’t realise that the turtles’ worst enemies are dogs, light at night and cars. If the nests are disturbed, the eggs lose their oxygen and literally suffocate. Lights at night lure the babies in the wrong direction and put off the nesting turtles who abort their eggs in the sea if they feel threatened.
Now the nests have been clearly labelled and protected by Turtle Watch, we should leave them alone and make space around them. Not easy on a popular beach but the day I was there, there was a responsible attitude. One mother made sure her boys played with their football well away from the marked nests.
There are laws to protect the nesting beaches but sadly not everyone obeys them.
1. No cars or bikes on the beach 2. No fires at night 3. No dogs.
Easy you’d think, but Chris nods his head sadly, “most people are respectful,” he says. “But there are always a few who won’t listen”.
It’s a tough life for a turtle, but good to know that people like Chris are there to watch out for the old girls.
