Baby sea turtles from California’s first-ever recorded nests make adorable dash into Pacific

Olive ridley sea turtles have hatched from California’s first confirmed natural sea turtle nests on the US West Coast, then crossed the sand to reach the Pacific. The discovery is significant for conservation, although why the turtles nested in Southern California remains unknown.

Two nests were found in Seal Beach and Huntington Beach in September. Officials moved the eggs to a protected incubator ahead of high surf linked to Tropical Storm Rachel; a third nest was found in Ventura County on 1 November. Olive ridleys face serious survival challenges: an estimated one in 1,000 hatchlings reaches adulthood.