This leatherback hatchling had just emerged from beneath the sand (along with about 80 siblings) and was making the perilous dash to the ocean. Not only were there many vultures waiting for the opportunity to strike, the terrain wasn’t exactly hospitable. My presence kept the vultures away and the little turtle summoned up the energy to navigate the mounds of sand left by the mothers who were laying their eggs the night before. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 35mm) ISO 800, f/5 at 1/400th of a second.
Ha, thanks Sue. I felt kind of bad that I wasn’t helping a nearby rescue crew place the hatchlings in a box to release them at night, but the few I was “escorting” down to the sea were protected due to me being there.
Kids today are so spoiled. When my mother left me on the beach to fend for myself with my 80 siblings, we didn’t have no wildlife photographer standing around to protect us from vultures. We had to crawl into the water by ourselves. And I tell you what it built character it did.
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This leatherback hatchling had just emerged from beneath the sand (along with about 80 siblings) and was making the perilous dash to the ocean. Not only were there many vultures waiting for the opportunity to strike, the terrain wasn’t exactly hospitable. My presence kept the vultures away and the little turtle summoned up the energy to navigate the mounds of sand left by the mothers who were laying their eggs the night before. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 35mm) ISO 800, f/5 at 1/400th of a second.
Sean Crane: 1+
Vultures: 0
Ha, thanks Sue. I felt kind of bad that I wasn’t helping a nearby rescue crew place the hatchlings in a box to release them at night, but the few I was “escorting” down to the sea were protected due to me being there.
Born to die.
Unfortunately, the survival rate is very low. But that’s why a mother lays so many eggs.
Against all odds. Love that you show the big picture and how enormous the task at hand is.
Just out of frame to the right were the rest of the siblings, some still struggling to emerge from their eggs and the sand.
Kids today are so spoiled. When my mother left me on the beach to fend for myself with my 80 siblings, we didn’t have no wildlife photographer standing around to protect us from vultures. We had to crawl into the water by ourselves. And I tell you what it built character it did.
This little guy looks like he’s about to take flight…and after his exhausting struggle to get to the ocean, he will — in the water. Good job, Sean!