Did you know that sea turtles take about 20-30 years to reach sexual maturity and reproduce.

“The turtles that you're looking at on the beach this year may have hatched out of their eggs 35 years ago. So what happened 35 years ago is going to determine what kind of population you have now. And what you do now is going to determine what kind of population you have 35 years from now” says Dr Jeanne Mortimer.

In this second episode of Sea Turtle Stories, we delve into one of the most crucial life stages for sea turtles - nesting. And who better to help us navigate this intricate, fascinating and vulnerable period in a sea turtle’s life than Dr Jeanne Mortimer, a legend in sea turtle conservation, affectionately known as Madame Torti in Seychelles.

Dr Jeanne’s appreciation for female sea turtles shines through as she discusses the biology of nesting turtles, the curious case of Seychelles hawksbills that nest during daytime and the vulnerabilities these animals face when they come ashore.

She also shares effective strategies she has employed to protect these animals, highlighting the significance of community involvement and offering valuable lessons from her decades of dedication to sea turtle conservation.

Links for additional reading:

Simple, yet effective: Protection at the nesting beach

Conservation of hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in the Republic of Seychelles

Fall and Rise of Nesting Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles:

Positive Response to Four Decades of Protection (1968–2008)

Green turtle diet is dominated by seagrass in the Western Indian Ocean except amongst gravid females

ORP’s Nesting Beach Code of Conduct (Downloadable PDF)

Turtle Action Group’s work in Seychelles

We would love to hear your questions, comments or suggestions about the podcast. Email us at: seaturtlestories@oliveridleyproject.org

Olive Ridley Project (ORP), a charity founded in 2013, is on a mission is to protect sea turtles and their habitats through rescue and conservation medicine, scientific research, and education and outreach

To support Olive Ridley Project’s work in sea turtle conservation, you can, Name and Adopt a wild sea turtle, Adopt a turtle patient or Donate here: https://oliveridleyproject.org/donate

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