This is the view North on North Topsail Beach around 7:30 p.m. on August 18, when I was there and a little loggerhead turtle emerged from one of many protected nests along the dunes.
This woman is a volunteer from the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center on Topsail Island. She was there for that singular loggerhead. She protected him from predators, including the well-intentioned children prancing about and climbing around the nest.
This woman also counted the number of shells of hatched turtles. There were more than 100. Below is one of the seven that didn't hatch. She dug another hole for them to give them another chance. She put the broken shells back in the original nest.
She kept the lone hatchling in a 5-gallon bucket until she helped him make the journey into the Atlantic. After that, the sky darkened to black and heavy rain fell as I made my way home.
The time and effort that goes into looking after these turtles is amazing. There are a lot of big hearts out there.
My World Tuesday
29 Comments
After everything that mankind has done to destroy their world, it is great to see people who take the time to give them a hand. I remember a relative in Florida who was furious that they closed the beach during certain times because of the turtles. He said, "people are more important than stupid turtles." Thankfully not everyone feels that way.
ReplyDeleteAn Arkies Musings
Thank you so much for the post. I love turtles! They are so important to me!
ReplyDeleteMarvelous post as always, Sandy, and like your other readers, I am so glad that there are people who care about not just the turtles, but all our wildlife! Thanks for sharing this! Enjoy your Labor Day!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
We humans are drawn to these beaches just as the turtles are. We can be reminded to leave only our footprints...preferably not right on top of tiny turtles.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post Sandy.
ReplyDeleteI so much admire the folks who devote their time and energy to help the little creatures. Of course, they help us all.
turtles are so precious. it's great that these creatures are well cared for.
ReplyDeleteFantastic sequence Sandy. I've been to the turtle hospital in Topsail many times, starting from its beginning. I've heard they are being relocated to a larger facility (can't remember off the top of my head where). These shots made me thing of that.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos - and so uplifting to hear of the gentle souls out there.
ReplyDeleteHow terrific to be a part of that process.. and for sharing it with us. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHow tremendous to be part of that Sandy. Great pictures :)
ReplyDeleteAn English Girl Rambles
Very inspiring, Sandy! It strengthens my faith in humanity when I read stories like these. Lovely pictures too, Sandy! :)
ReplyDeletePoor little turtles I feel so sorry for them Such little guys and with so much work ahead of them to survive.
ReplyDeleteIn Indonesia we came across a bucket full of turtle eggs for sale. We didn't buy any cause we couldn't bring them home but it was interesting to see how soft and strong the egg shell was.
I think they were selling the eggs to eat.I don't know if I would savor eating turtle soup.
Oh what a magical thing to witness.
ReplyDeleteFortunately there are still good people who protect nature and wildlife! We have been a member of WWF for a long time.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week, Sandy!
It is this kind of inspiring story that gives me hope in human nature. We may be off to a slow start in caring for the creatures of this planet but could finish nobly in the end. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's totally amazing, Sandy! Thank you for telling us about it. Wish I had been there. I LOVE witnessing wonders of nature and the human love and effort sometimes needed to help.
ReplyDeleteHow marvelous and wonderful there are such caring people in the world to take care of all God's creatures so we can all enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI loved the video , thank you. Loved watching it struggle after the wave, with the sand all heavy and wet. Wildlife is so incredibly tenacious.
ReplyDeleteI'm always amazed at the lengths to which these volunteers go to give the turtles a fighting chance.
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing event, you were lucky to have been there for it!
ReplyDeleteFantastic post. It is good to see at least some people caring for this turtles.
ReplyDeleteWe have similar efforts here in Chennai, east coast of India.
ReplyDeleteFor long I had been planning to witness this. But :(
Your shots are great.
we also have beaches here which are called turtle sanctuary. it's indeed fun finding them. i just hope they survive the big ocean.
ReplyDeletethat must have been so exciting to find them.
ReplyDeletehave a wonderful work week.
This was an amazing tale and those pictures are priceless. Yet another post reinforcing the miracle of nature...
ReplyDeletexoxo
We so often forget the good that people do.
ReplyDeleteVery nice photo and excellent blog I like.
ReplyDeletePleace looking fotoblog Teuvo images
www.ttvehkalahti.blogspot.com
and pleace your comment
Thank you
Teuvo Vehkalahti
FINLAND
It is good to know there are still a lot of people with kind hearts and helping hands. The turtles may not know who they are but I think our earth appreciates the gesture.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting sequence, Sandy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being here.