The Listin Diario reports that in seven to eight weeks, or by mid July, 80 to 100 leatherback turtles will hatch on southeastern Dominicus Beach, in front of the Club Viva Dominicus. The mother turtle laid her eggs there on 14-15 May. The mother turtle is estimated to weigh over 600 kilos. Scientists believe she was born at Dominicus beach about 100 years ago and returned to lay her eggs. Club Viva Dominicus has fenced in the area where the turtle lay her eggs, to protect these from onlookers and predators. The newspaper says that the hotel is keeping a close watch on the mother in order to shut off illumination near the beach to avoid disorienting the baby turtles when they are born. The baby turtles have been known to follow the lights and not head into the water as they are supposed to. The hotel has assigned a day and a night watchman to keep a close eye on the mother turtle.
