Interesting Photo of the Day: Baby Sea Turtle’s First Swim

Interesting Photos

South Florida photographer, Ben Hicks, can consider himself fortunate after having been present for the hatching of a nest of Loggerhead sea turtles and subsequent adventure to make it to sea. Without overheating or becoming lost before they find water, just making it offshore is a dangerous chore for the hatchlings. They also risk becoming a meal for a variety of natural predators such as birds and crabs:

Underwater photo of baby sea turtle’s first swim (Via Imgur, click for larger size)

Once the young turtles make it to water they began what is commonly referred to as a swimming frenzy–a rush to swim away from the dangerous coastline where most of it’s natural predators live. Because the turtles are so vulnerable at this age, it is approximated that only 1 in 1000 turtles will actually survive into adulthood. Because so few of the turtles actually make it to the water from the nest, Hicks was able to photograph a relatively rare occasion.