The night watchman thought his beach was being invaded, but fortunately, he held his fire. To his surprise, three giant tinglar sea turtles had returned to lay eggs on the beach at Las Terrenas, Saman?. These sea turtles, the largest of their kind to visit Dominican shores, return to the beach to lay their eggs after spending 10 years at sea. According to the Dominican Foundation for Marine Studies, they risk endangerment on an international level, but are in particularly grave danger in the DR. Fortunately, the owner of the Hotel La Isabela de Coz?n has a conservationist streak and has provided special protection for the three reptiles. According to the Conservation Department of the Ministry of Environment, the hotel did the right thing and the ministry will provide support in protecting the nests until they hatch in May.