WNJ Exclusive: Miracle newborn turtle hatches in hurricane wreckage at South Amboy
Newborn Diamondback Terrapin on South Amboy beach after Hurricane Irene.
All photos courtesy of Jo Ann Flynn.
by Jo Ann Chavelle Flynn
As thousands of residents in New Jersey assessed the damage Hurricane Irene inflicted on them, I, like many, wanted to see what was left of my small town nestled on the Raritan Bay.
South Amboy has made the headlines throughout the years from the explosion in 1918 to television shows and movies filmed at several South Amboy locations. Hurricane Irene added to South Amboy's history as a whale was washed up on the beach near the boat launch - making it one of many deaths related to the storm.
Our small South Amboy beach had suffered damage from previous storms, with new sea grasses since sprouting up. But now, with Hurricane Irene causing so much damage, I found a small miracle after a day of pounding rain and heavy winds wreaked havoc on our beach. Several shells shared the beach with unfortunate large amounts of garbage.
Yet among all the debris, I found a newborn Diamondback Terrapin turtle whose hatching shell was broken and was trying to break the mucus membrane around him. I sat and watched as he broke through and took his very first steps on the beach.
Amazingly the shell, so fragile, had protected the turtle throughout the storm. As I watched this miracle I found several other eggs that had been taken from their nests and were scattered throughout the beach. Afraid of birds and other animals harming the unborn turtles, I tried to make sure they were as safe as possible. In the next few weeks I plan to return to the beach and check on these turtles.
Stay tuned next week for the video about the newborn diamondback terrapin.
Related story: WNJ Breaking News: Hurricane beached whale at So. Amboy Waterfront
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 9/5/2011 6:00 AM 
Categories: WNJ Exclusives
Tags: diamondback terrapin south amboy hurricane irene hurricane new jersey Raritan Bay
Categories: WNJ Exclusives
Tags: diamondback terrapin south amboy hurricane irene hurricane new jersey Raritan Bay
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