Did you watch my Galapagos video? If not go here but it took me days to do and while it’s really long I am kind of proud of it.
You will notice there is a cute clip of a baby turtle heading down the beach. What you don’t realize is that he is racing for his life.
Galapagos turtles usually leave their nest at night as it is safer with less predators, specifically birds, but one turtle decides the fate of many.
The leader decides when to leave and everyone follows. There are usually nearly 200 Galapagos turtles in a nest but only 5% of them actually survive.
In some countries like Mexico or Costa Rica, communities try to help rejuvenate the turtle population.
They protect the young ones as they leave the nest but here in the Galapagos there cannot be any interference with wildlife.
So as upsetting as it was to watch these turtles get scooped up our guide Juan reminded us we had just seen so many baby birds and they were probably going to be food for them.
In his 25 years as a guide he had only seen this happen a handful of times. We were witnessing a very rare opportunity in nature.
If you cannot view this video check out Baby Galapagos Turtles Massacre here.
Speechless
I know, it’s so sad but that’s nature.
I saw this on an animal documentary once, and I kid you not, I was HYSTERICALLY CRYING for the turtles, and yelling “YOU STUPID BIRDS” at the TV. Not one of my classiest moments.
I once bawled on a bus in Peru after watching a made for television movie with Richard Gere who died and his dog refused to leave the train station where he waited for him every day.
Was not pretty.
OMG I had to turn the video off at about 10 seconds in, pobre turtles!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙁
I know, it was hard to watch but also amazing to see nature in the wild like this.
Poor little turtles! I love turtles. I know those birds have to eat, but still. I probably would have been crying the whole time, but what a great experience to have been able to see that in person!
I was in awe more than anything, this is the type of thing you see on National Geographic and I saw it first hand.
Birds have to eat too…. But this is so tragic to watch, especially because they are endangered and also because they are so young. That one that reached the sea and still got snapped up almost had me in tears!
I didn’t show some video of those who made it into the water but still snapped up, it was tough to watch.
I really love turtles and in general could careless about birds, so this upsets me deeply. I remember reading about this and thinking “man F those birds can’t they eat some worms or something way less epic and adorable?!”
haha poor worms
Oh man I almost cried when that one almost made it but the mean old bird swooped in at the last minute 🙁 at least some made it to the sea! Cool that you got to see it though!
Yes definitely straight out of a documentary.
Wow, how epic was that! This was actually pretty tough to watch, but at the same time helped me to see reality of what it takes for these little guys to make it. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I kind of didn’t want it to end because it was so fascinating. Maybe not having to continuously see them fail, but just in general, to see them fighting to survive, especially since you picked an epic soundtrack! Great choice of song by the way, all that hard work searching paid off! 😉
I had contemplating showing more but it was just more of the same. They definitely have a tough time at surviving.
When this was under Food Friday I was a little concerned it was going to be some kind of turtle stew…
I do tend to side with the baby turtles over the baby birds since they have to work harder. Great job on the video!
I would NEVER eat turtle stew. In some places in Central America they still eat turtle eggs and it is awful. I don’t have an issue with nature but people should know better as they are endangered.
It’s so sad, you’re just willing them to make it, go little turtles go!
Epic video!
Something I will always remember for sure.
That’s what they call the circle of life… still sad though. Great video!
I can’t get that song out of my head.
Okay, while Juan there does have a good point, turtles are amazing and I don’t really give a hoot about birds. So I think I would have been the person getting kicked off the tour for running wild down the beach throwing my body in between the birds and turtles and throwing rocks in the air and weeping dramatically.
I doubt I would have been invited back.
Poor friggots, no one loves them!
Sad!! I have come across this in Costa Rica… Great music choice. I was crying during just the opening shot!
You’re such a sap!
This gave me goosebumps and nearly had me in tears. The music chosen did not help my cause as it was very powerful. Thanks for sharing.
It is definitely hard to watch but I keep reminding myself that if those birds don’t find food their babies die too.
I would probably be one of those throwing rocks at the birds too. Poor little fellas didn’t stand a chance!
I know…it was so hard to just watch.
Turtles are amazing…and I’m not a fan of those Frigate birds as they also steal fish form other birds by chasing them in the air and pulling their tails. (Some people call them Pirates of the skies). Nature can be mean sometimes…but it’s not our position to alter such natural events.
You know though Juan was telling me of all the animals in the Galapagos that the survival of the birds are the most important as they are the ones that carry new life to places like Sullivan Bay.
I’m sure that watching this live was somewhat heartbreaking…
OMG AMAZING
So heartbreaking to see the ones that just touched the edge of the wave before being scooped up. But that’s the way nature works, I guess… Still a beautiful video, thanks for sharing.