Sea Turtles Vote With Their Flippers
August 11, 2023 – You probably know that the Space Coast is one of the few places in the world where sea turtles choose to come ashore and build their nests (you might say they are voting with their flippers).
What you may not know is that according to the folks at Canaveral National Seashore, 2023 now holds the record for the most turtle nests ever recorded on their beaches.
That’s great news for these massive creatures, where nearly all the species are classified as endangered. Now with over 8000 green turtle nests this season, it seems the efforts to protect sea turtles are paying off.
2023 Sea Turtle Nest Counts
• Loggerhead (Caretta caretta):
Apollo (2490) ………. Playalinda (2997)
• Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea):
Apollo ( 10 ) ………. Playalinda ( 18 )
• Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas):
Apollo (3241) ………. Playalinda (4934)
• Kemps Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii):
Apollo ( 0 ) ………. Playalinda ( 1 )
Total Sea Turtle Nest Count: 13691
Source: Canaveral National Seashore