Endangered Hawksbill Turtles Hatch On Beach Deserted Due To Covid-19 In Brazil

Almost 100 endangered sea turtles have hatched on a Brazilian beach that was deserted due to coronavirus restrictions.

According to Paulista City Hall, with no one around to disturb them, 97 Hawksbill sea turtles were able to make their way to the sea last week (22 March).

The tiny creatures are extremely vulnerable after having hatched and are at risk of being snatched by passing birds or crushed by beachgoers.

But photographs, which were taken by government employees, have now been shared showing the moment the dozens of little creatures headed for the surf, safe from danger.

According to reports, residents in the region of Pernambuco, in the north-east of the country, have been banned from congregating on the beach due to the spread of Covid-19.

Paulista City Hall

Speaking about the rare sighting, Herbert Andrade, Environmental Manager at Paulista, said: "In all, 291 sea turtles were born on the coast of Paulista in 2020, with 87 green turtles and 204 hawksbill turtles. This time, due to preventive measures against the new coronavirus, the population was unable to closely monitor the birth."

Hawksbills can grow to up to 45 inches in length and 68kg (150 pounds) in weight, and are classed as 'critically endangered' by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Their existence is vital to 'marine ecosystems and helps maintain the health of coral reefs and sea grass bed', according to the WWF.

Paulista City Hall

Officials in Pernambuco, which has seen dozens of cases of Covid-19 and multiple deaths, have been fighting an uphill battle to contain the spread of the virus.

The state's governor Paulo Câmara told The Guardian that a partial lockdown of the area was paramount in combating the pandemic.

He said: "Only isolation will stop the curve growing at the speed it is growing in other places.

"All of our efforts are now geared towards delaying its profileration ... [so that] when this curve grows, and it will grow, we are as ready as we possibly can be to care for people."

It's okay to not panic. LADbible and UNILAD's aim with our series, Cutting Through, is to provide our community with facts and stories from the people who are either qualified to comment or have experienced first-hand the situation we're facing. For more information from the World Health Organisation on coronavirus, click here.

Topics: Interesting, Coronavirus, Health

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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