G.I.P (Growth In Progress)

A young Green Sea Turtle hatchling undergoes its weekly weighing, ensuring steady growth. This individual is 1 in a batch of 12 that hatched off the island of Koh Phangan and is being reared on Koh Tao. The nursery allows the turtles to grow in a safer environment for the first 4-8 months of its growth, which are the most vulnerable months of its life. Based on extensive international research, the survivability of turtle hatchlings in the wild is estimated to be 1% during this period.

With globally declining numbers in several species of sea turtle, maximising survivability is key to restoring population numbers in the wild.

At the nursery, young turtles are given an environment that encourages many characteristics that closely resemble growth in the wild, such as exposure to fresh food items and enclosures that promote swimming and diving. All the while, size and weight measurements are taken on a weekly basis to monitor growth and spot early signs of illness. All turtles, once large enough, are tagged with a microchip and released into the wild, healthy and significantly more immune to risk of predation.

See more images of the monitoring at: https:--www.facebook.com-NHRCP-photos-pcb.807156156008952-807155569342344-?type=1&theater

Read more at the links below:

http:--www.newheavendiveschool.com-conservation-projects-sea-turtle-hatchlings-join-program-

http:--www.newheavendiveschool.com-articles-sea-turtle-success-story-
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