further movement by the heat of the surface sand and will wait until the temperature drops before bursting out and running for the sea.  They guide themselves by sight, heading for the exact center of the light zone which is almost always to be found over the sea horizon. During the run to the water up to twelve percent of the hatchlings may be taken by ghost crabs and once in the sea, predation on the hatchlings during their first few months of life is intense and it has been estimated that only 1 or 2 hatchlings from every thousand that enters the sea will reach maturity.

Those that survive will spend the next three years drifting in the Indian Ocean where they will feed on floating organisms such as blue-bottles and purple storm snails.  Amazingly enough, research has shown that once mature (12-15 years), the females will often return to the  beaches on which they were hatched to lay their eggs. Sadly these wonderful creatures are widely exploited along our own coastline, and in Madagascar over 23 000 turtles were killed and eaten during 1970.  The Natal Parks Board are actively involved in a protection programme together with a number of volunteers who work the Mozambique coast. During the nesting period the turtles are tagged and recovery data is extremely valuable to the scientists, and this is where we, the public can help to further protect the species.

If you should come across a tagged adult turtle or hatchling with a notch out of his carapace, please notify your nearest institute, university or Natal Parks Board. If such an opportunity does not exist, then please note the following information for labeling the animal or sending to the Natal Parks Board; P 0 Box 662, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, Natal, South Africa : telephone : (0331) 471961 :

       a.      Date of find
       b.      Locality of find
       c.    Species involved (if known--a photograph showing the head makes identification easier)
             
All the hatchlings, notched or not, should be sent to the nearest institute or direct (if deaf) to the Natal parks Board.  Dead specimens should be placed in a plastic bag with some cotton wool or tissue which has been dipped into mentholated spirits or alcohol. The bag should be
sealed and posted in an envelope or box. We trust that you have enjoyed learning a little more about the turtles, and ask that you please help us protect these gentle creatures. This information has been extracted from the guide, "Sea Turtles" by Dr G R Hughes, Chief Executive Officer of the Natal Parks Board.