The Life of a Turtle: A Journey From Beach to Ocean (By Evie, Liv and Juno)
By Evie P, Liv M and Juno S, Good News Room at Clevedon School
We love turtles, and this year we are championing them because plastic pollution along our beaches can seriously harm turtles and their habitats.
The life of a turtle begins when a mother turtle lays her eggs, burying them carefully in the sand.
The temperature of the sand determines the sex of the hatchlings.
When the eggs hatch, the newborn turtles make their way to the surface, and around 200–500 hatchlings begin their dangerous journey towards the sea.
However, only around one quarter survive long enough to reach the ocean. Many die due to dehydration or exhaustion, especially on long beaches, as they need water to survive.
If they live to adulthood, turtles start life the size of a coin and can grow to 100–1,000 times their original body mass.
Throughout their lives, turtles spend their time resting, swimming and eating – a bit like us when we are on holiday!
