Did you know... this about turtles?

There are seven recognised species of sea turtles in the world. These include the green sea turtle, hawksbill sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle, olive ridley sea turtle, hawksbill sea turtle and flatback sea turtle. Have you seen any of them before?

We've seen the green sea turtle and hawksbill sea turtles in the Maldives!!!🐢💚 These are also the kinds of turtles most commonly seen in the Maldives.

Turtles feed on seaweed, other marine plants, crustaceans, fish, sponges, fruit and more. Their diet varies depending on the species they are.

- Green sea turtles feed on; algae & seaweed!

- Hawksbill turtles feed on a more varied diet such as; molluscs, crustaceans and sponges.

The survival rate of turtles from hatching to adulthood varies considerably depending on the species. In general, turtles have a low survival rate. It is said that 1 in 1000 survive to adulthood. Exact figures vary between species and areas.

Sea turtles, when they hatch, have a relatively low survival rate due to predators such as birds and crabs. Only a small number survive to reach the water. In addition, they are also exposed to threats such as fishing, plastic pollution and habitat loss.

Many turtle species, especially green sea turtles, lay their eggs on the same beaches where they hatched. This behaviour is often referred to as "natal homing". They dig a depression in the sand and lay their eggs there. This usually happens at night. The depression is about 30-60 cm (depending on the species). The leatherback turtle often digs about 75 cm into the sand and lays the eggs. Unfortunately, water conditions can have an impact on how many turtle eggs actually hatch. Even if the turtles go far up the beach and lay their eggs, the eggs can risk drowning from below in the sand and never hatch. This can be due to high waves, nest placement or if the hole is dug very deep.

The temperature of the sand where the turtle eggs are buried has a great influence on the hatching of sea turtles. The temperature controls the development of the turtle eggs and can affect the sex determination of the turtle hatchlings.

At temperatures below a certain threshold, most turtle eggs will result in males, while temperatures above the threshold result in females. This phenomenon is called "temperature dependent sex determination" (TSD).

Want to learn even more about turtles? Then come and experience them for yourself in the Maldives in their natural habitat! 💚 🏝️🌺 🐚👙🌴🥥☀️