The turtles have been provided with two distinct enclosures in which to develop through their early life stages. As hatchlings, measuring 4-5 cm in length and weighing 20-25 grams, the turtles were housed in an enclosure measuring 2 m × 2 m × 2 m, constructed out of a steel frame covered with a plastic Netlon® mesh with a 2 cm opening. The mesh extended over the top of the enclosure to prevent predation on the hatchlings by birds, particularly herons. The enclosure was anchored in the lagoon in such a way that the highest tide would not submerge the top mesh cover, and the lowest tide would not leave the hatchlings exposed out of the water. The enclosure is kept clean through regular brushing to minimize algal growth on the plastic mesh.

Construction of the turtle cage

Once the hatchlings reached an average 10 cm in carapace length, they were transferred to a second larger enclosure set over the lagoon seabed. This enclosure measured 7 m × 10 m and was 3 m deep. The enclosure was set in such a way so as to be over a predominantly sandy substrate encompassing several coral formations. The enclosure was constructed out of 6 cm-diameter galvanized steel tubing with plastic-coated chain-link fencing. This enclosure was also constructed in the lagoon in such a way that the highest tide would not reach the topmost edge of the fence, and the lowest tide would never leave the seabed exposed. The enclosure is kept clean of most major growths, but small amounts of natural algal growth are left untouched in case turtles wish to graze on the algae.

Small and large cage in the lagoon