The Sea Turtles of Ras al-Jinz

Up to 100,000 sea turtles per year come to the coasts of Oman at Ras al-Jinz to lay their eggs. In order to prevent the animals from being disturbed while laying their eggs an entire coastal region is under the supervision of the natural protection authority.

Up to 100,000 turtles per year come to the coasts of Oman to lay their eggs. They spend the rest of their lives in the sea. Their natural life expectancy is, on average, 100 years. However, they do not reach sexual maturity until the age of 30-50 years. An adult of the largest species to be found in Oman is over a metre long.

Sea pollution is affecting these animals particularly badly on account of this slow change of generations and poses a concrete threat to their existence. In order to prevent the animals from being disturbed while laying their eggs due to inappropriate tourist behaviour, the entire coastal region is under the supervision of the natural protection authority.

For even the slightest change to the coastal silhouette, due to someone standing around or even a small glint of light, is sufficient to arouse the suspicions of the females that are ready to spawn. They then turn back in the water instead of laying their eggs.