Wild Conservation – A Houston Zoo Blog

While on my sea turtle patrol yesterday I intercepted this female Kemp’s ridley sea turtle awkwardly flapping and slowly inching her way along the beach to the dunes to nest and deposit her eggs. What an experience to share space and be alone with this magnificent sea dwelling animal on a sunny June afternoon! At a time of so much frustration and worry for the Gulf and all of it’s inhabitants-it is so hopeful & special to see one of the most endangered animals in the world both surviving, and thankfully, recovering from near extinction only a few decades ago.

She must have been a picky mom because she dug a few holes and went back into the water without depositing her eggs. She was looking for just the right spot. A shot of her making her way back to the sea…

There’s nothing like the cool and refreshing splatter of the ocean water after baking in the hot sun! 

Find out more about sea turtle conservation at the Houston Zoo and in Texas!

Would you please share with me and other Houston Zoo blog readers one of your most memorable wildlife experiences?

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