During our first family trip to Zambales (during pandemic), we had a chance to bury sea turtle eggs. When I posted photos of the eggs on FB, a lot seems to be interested in these cute creatures. I will share with you our sea turtle “eggsperience” here by answering frequently asked questions about them.
burying sea turtle eggs 
90 sea turtle eggs 
relocated sea turtle egg nest
Where did you get the Sea Turtle Eggs?
We got them from poachers who took the eggs from the beach along the West Philippine Sea.
Are they for free?
No, the poachers are selling them between P8-10 each. We bought them to be reburied and set free in the ocean once they hatch.
How big are they? Are they like chicken eggs?
Sea Turtle eggs are roughly the size of a pingpong ball. No they are not like chicken eggs, they feel leathery and are spheres not the usual egg shape that we know of.
How many eggs does a Sea Turtle lay? Do they all hatch?
Sea Turtles lay an average of about 100 eggs. Only 70-80% will hatch. Few will survive until adulthood with estimates ranging from 1 in 1000 to 1 in 10,000. Which is why we are trying to save them.
Do Sea Turtles lay eggs all year round?
No. They normally go to the shore to lay eggs during the colder months. During their nesting season they may lay more than one clutch/nest. They can lay 2-8 nests in one season on the average.
Why do the eggs need to be moved from the original nesting spot, why can’t they be left where they were laid?
Poachers wait for the sea turtles to lay eggs and dig them up to sell them. When we got them from the poachers, we reburied them in a safe place where animals can’t eat them, vehicles won’t run over them and they won’t get washed away by the waves.
How deep should the new nest be?
We dug about a foot deep then carefully placed the eggs in.
How long does it take for them to hatch?
It takes between 45-55 days for them to hatch depending on the species, temperature, location, etc.
Can you eat sea turtle eggs?
They are endangered. We are trying to save their specie and eating them is out of the question.
What do you do when they hatch?
We will set them free in the ocean, hoping a large number of them will survive until adulthood and go back to the place where they hatched to lay their own eggs.
Hope all this information has shed some light on the plight of our precious sea turtles. Let’s try to do what we can to save them.