Amazing turtle tsunami hits a beach in Brazil

Manaus (Brazil): Tens and thousands of turtle hatchlings have emerged over several days from a sandy beach on the Purus River in Brazil.

A video released by Brazil's Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) shows teaming Giant South American River turtle hatchlings.

WCS Brazil conservationists say turtles emerged on a protected area on the tributary of the Amazon River in Brazil.

As many as 71,000 hatchlings appeared on one day alone and a few days later another 21,000 came out in the Reserva Biologica do Abufari (Abufari Biological Reserve).

The conservationists have been monitoring adult females and their nests before, during, and after the birth of the hatchlings

They are studying conditions to help improve management and protection of this endangered species, long impacted by trafficking of their meat and eggs.

Camila Ferrara, Aquatic Turtle Specialist for WCS's Brazil, said: "For the Giant South America river turtle, birth is an explosion of life, but also it is most fragile phase. In some areas, hatchlings use mass birth to increase their survival. The synchronisation of birth allows them to travel together to the river to start a new journey."

The conservation work is part of a project led by WCS Brazil in partnership with ICMBIO and are sponsored by Fundacao o Boticario.

The Giant South American river turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in Latin America, reaching lengths of three and a half feet (1.07 metres) and weights of 200 pounds (90 kg).

The turtles play an important ecological role by dispersing seeds that eventually help regenerate vegetation along river corridors.

IANS report with edits