Grand Park Kodhipparu, Maldives are delighted to have witnessed their very first sea turtle nesting event.

In the early morning of April 23rd, a female Hawksbill turtle visited looking for a suitable nesting site to lay her eggs. As turtles are a critically endangered species, the staff kept a proper safety distance without disrupting the long nesting procedure, and pictures were taken without flash. After the sea turtle left, the nest was promptly secured and protected with a fence, and a sign was placed close by as a reminder to not disturb or touch the nesting ground.

Based on reports from marine biologists and professional divers stationed around Maldives, the Hawksbill is the most commonly encountered turtle species in the water. However, the number of them nesting in the Maldives appears to be much lower than the number of nesting Green Sea Turtles. 

Hawksbill Sea Turtles reach sexual maturity at around 30 years of age and lay an average of 160 eggs in each nest that take about 2 months to hatch. Interestingly, every 2-3 years, the females return to the same location on the very same beaches where they themselves hatched, referred to as native beaches, to lay their own eggs. They do not reproduce every year, but will make 2-5 nests every 2-4 years, making it extra special for Grand Park Kodhipparu, Maldives to be a sanctuary for a new generation of Hawksbill Sea Turtles. 

The General Manager of the resort, Raffaele Solferinio remarked, “We look forward to welcoming our very first sea turtle hatchlings by the end of June at Grand Park, Kodhipparu, Maldives. This event rewards the extraordinary efforts of our green team members who are daily processing environmental activities, keeping our reefs and shores safe and clean, as well as promoting sustainable educational modules to both guests and staff.”

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