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Marine Turtle Newsletter 69:21-22, © 1995
HATCHLINGS FOUND ADRIFT WITH SEA GRASSES
Sightings of sea turtle hatchlings at sea are rare in our part of the world, as is the case elsewhere. Thus, we would like to contribute this brief note. During a recent coastal cleanup, a student environmental group discovered hatchling sea turtles drifting with floating sea grass and leaf litter off Margie's Beach, Ngeruktabel Island (one of the Rock Islands south of Koror, Palau) at approximately 1000 hr on 24 October 1994. The day was bright and calm. About six hatchling turtles were found in 1.2-1.8 m of water, 3-5 m from shore. The species is not known with certainty, but the hatchlings were most likely hawksbills; both hawksbills and green turtles are known to nest in the area. After the group carefully examined the turtles, they were placed back in the floating bits of sea grass. The turtles stayed in the floating material with their fore flippers tucked up over their shells. They would occasionally take a stroke or two and then retuck, quietly floating. This is one of the first times hatchlings have been sighted floating with leaf litter inside the lagoon in Palau.
LISA KING, Marine Education Officer, Division Marine Resources, P. O. Box 117, Koror, PALAU 96940.