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

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

The nest contained 107 eggs laid by a Kemp's Ridley sea turtle, which is without doubt one of the most endangered sea turtle species on the planet.

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

As soon as the nest was found, it was brought to an incubation facility at Padre Island Nationwide Seashore, Marshall stated.

“Each egg matters,” Marshall said. "A whole lot of nesting habitat for the Kemp's Ridley has been misplaced to storms, high tide and predation, which is why it is very important transport these nests to an environment where they have one of the best likelihood for survival into maturity."

The species was almost lost in the Eighties till intensive conservation efforts were implemented on nesting beaches and through fisheries administration, according to 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 stated the standard nesting season for the Kemp's Ridley sea turtle runs between April 1 and July 15. He urged anyone who finds a nest to remain no less than 60 feet away and to name the Sea Turtle hotline at 1-866-TURTLE-5.

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