Sad Encounter With a Mutant Turtle

My travel to the Turtle Islands in Tawi-tawi revealed to me some realities about the environment.

We watched the baby turtles (hatchlings, actually) emerge from their sand nest. It started with one slowly emerging from the sandy beach. Then followed by another, and another. And in a few moments, the sand nest seemed to dramatically explode in slow motion as more than 80 other hatchlings scampered from the nest. Each trying to outrace other babies in trying to reach the beach. You see, they have to do that so their chances of survival to reach old age would would be much higher. Sadly, it is only one percent. Meaning, a lot of those hatchling would be dead before they even reach the sea or swim 50 meters to reach the deep waters. We saw ghost crabs chasing after them, we saw splashes in the sea which meant that big fishes or baby sharks gobbled up some hatchlings. And we saw huge eagles swooping down the water and grabbed their turtle meals, twice. One for each talon.

It was a race for survival and their so-called frenzy would last for a given number of hours until they become completely exhausted. By then, they should be in the middle of the sea where very few predators can spot them. Such is the law of nature.

But my amazement and education did not end there. Together with the wardens, we went back to the nest to dig and examine if there were some that were not able to climb up the sand hole. Then we saw one that cannot climb up because it had no hind flippers..

The environment officers told me that it was a mutant (like a Donatello mutant? My imagination was playing crazy on me). That it was quite common that some hatchlings turn out to be mutants. This one was not dead. It was so alive that it kept moving its front flippers, trying to catch up to its brothers and sisters. It wanted to live.

I felt pity for the young turtle.

”It won’t survive.” said one environment officer.

And i felt a lump in my throat. I asked if there could be a way to take care of it. Like, let me take care of it!

They quipped that it will grow so huge and it would still be alive when I am long dead because turtles have a longer lifespan that humans could only envy.

”We have no choice but let nature take its course.”

So we walked to the beach with me gently holding the mutant turtle that kept wagging its flippers. When we reached the water, i slowly let go of the hatchling. It started flapping to make its journey to the deep, blue sea.

But it kept swimming in circles. Getting nowhere and going slower. I wanted to grab it back and take care of it. But such inspiring drama only happens in the movies. In reality, you have to understand and respect the laws of nature.

All i could do for the baby turtle was whisper a prayer and a goodbye.