Endangered sea turtle nest discovered at Galveston Island State Park for the primary time in a decade – Houston Public Media

A nest of endangered sea turtle eggs was discovered on the beachside of Galveston Island State Park final week — the first nest discovered at the park in over a decade.

The nest contained 107 eggs laid by a Kemp's Ridley sea turtle, which is likely one of the most endangered sea turtle species on the planet.

This was the first nest found at Galveston Island State Park since 2012, in line with Christopher Marshall, a professor of Marine Biology at Texas A&M and director for the Gulf Middle for Sea Turtle Research.

Once the nest was found, it was delivered to an incubation facility at Padre Island National Seashore, Marshall mentioned.

“Each egg issues,” Marshall stated. "Numerous nesting habitat for the Kemp's Ridley has been lost to storms, excessive tide and predation, which is why it is very important transport these nests to an surroundings the place they've the perfect chance for survival into adulthood."

The species was virtually misplaced in the Nineteen Eighties until intensive conservation efforts have been applied on nesting seashores and thru fisheries management, in accordance with NOAA Fisheries. Bycatch — the intentional seize of non-target species whereas fishing — continues to be the most important threat dealing with Kemp's Ridley sea turtles.

Marshall said the typical nesting season for the Kemp's Ridley sea turtle runs between April 1 and July 15. He urged anybody who finds a nest to remain no less than 60 feet away and to call the Sea Turtle hotline at 1-866-TURTLE-5.

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