The Armada of the Dominican Republic (Navy), in coordination with the Officers’ Wives Association, released some 105 newborn sea turtles into the Caribbean Sea last week. The variety was the Green Turtle, one of several endangered species that comes ashore on the island of Hispaniola to lay its eggs. Sea Scouts (scouts marinos) were also present at the ceremony, as part of the team from the National Aquarium.
This latest release is part of an on-going operation of protecting and releasing recently hatched turtles of three endangered species: the Giant Leatherback, the Carey, and the Green Turtle.
The release took place at the Sans Souci Naval Station in Santo Domingo. Eggs that were laid on the beaches near the Naval Officers Club in Sans Souci in eastern Santo Domingo are dug up and taken to the National Aquarium for incubation and hatching. The beaches in Sans Souci are the only on the island where all three endangered species lay eggs.
The Navy even posts guards at the locations where the turtles lay their eggs for them not to be disturbed.
On the North Coast, there are sporadic civilian efforts to protect the eggs of turtles that come to the many beaches in the area every year.
Recently United States ambassador Robin Bernstein participated in the release of another batch of hatchlings together with the commandant of the Armada.
Female sea turtles return to where they were hatched to lay eggs. Only 1 in 1,000 baby sea turtles survive to adulthood.
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El Nacional
Diario Libre
14 October 2019