Sea Turtle Hatchlings Discovered in Louisiana After 75-Year Absence

Tiny Kemp’s ridley turtle hatchlings have been spotted and photographed off the coast of New Orleans for the first time in 75 years, thanks to conservation efforts

Sea turtle hatchlings were spotted by state officials for the first time in 75 years, just off Louisiana’s Chandeleur Islands, on Wednesday.

The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) discovered hatchlings of Kemp’s ridley turtles in the Breton National Wildlife Refuge. These groups confirmed in a release that this sighting was the first of its kind on the islands in at least 75 years.

Two live hatchlings were observed on their way from the beach to the water, and 53 other “crawls” — the lines that indicate more turtles have moved through the sand — were documented. The hatchlings were identified as Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, which are endangered. The crawls indicated to officials that loggerhead sea turtles, currently considered a threatened species, were also present.

Sea Turtle Nest Discovered on Mississippi Beach for the First Time Since 2018: ‘A Good Sign’

Organizations have attributed the return of the tiny turtles to their conservation efforts.

“Louisiana was largely written off as a nesting spot for sea turtles decades ago, but this determination demonstrates why barrier island restoration is so important,” said CRPA Chairman Chip Kline in a release.

“As we develop and implement projects statewide, we are always keeping in mind what’s needed to preserve our communities and enhance wildlife habitat” Kline continued. “Having this knowledge now allows us to make sure these turtles and other wildlife return to our shores year after year.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.

Now seeing the positive results of that effort, organizations in Louisiana are “very excited” by the discovery.

Leopoldo Miranda-Castro, Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) said they have worked hard with partners “to restore wildlife and habitat in the Gulf of Mexico since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill through planning and implementing numerous projects, including on the Chandeleur Islands.”

Scientists Are Exploring How to Bring the Tasmanian Tiger Back from Extinction

“The discovery of sea turtles nesting and successfully hatching is a huge step forward demonstrating the amazing resilience of fish and wildlife resources, including threatened and endangered species, and the importance of restoring these barrier islands to protect humans and nature,” Miranda-Castro said in a news release.

Kemp’s ridley turtles are tiny for their species, only growing to about two feet in length, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It is one of several turtle species known to congregate in the area, where the creatures feed on marine seagrass meadows.

Officials said additional nests may be discovered, as the peak of nesting season is June through July.

Nearby in Mississippi, the discovery of the state’s first sea turtle nest in four years is contributing to a resurgence of wildlife in the area. The nest marks the first known time a sea turtle has laid its eggs on the Mississippi mainland since 2018, according to the IMMS.

The nest — holding eggs that will hatch in 50 to 60 days — was found by beach crews in Pass Christian Harbor, Mississippi, on Aug. 1.

Georgia Rescue Celebrates First Public Release in 2 Years by Returning Turtle Duo to the Ocean

The species of the turtle in the nest cannot be determined until the eggs hatch. However, Moby Solangi, president and executive director of the IMMS, told the Associated Press that they are likely loggerhead sea turtles or another clutch of Kemp’s ridley sea turtles.

Solangi believes the discovery of the nest is a positive indicator for sea turtles, especially following the BP Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill in 2010.

“After all the environmental disasters we’ve had, this is a good sign. When (turtle populations) have gone down, it means the ecosystem that supports them is having difficulty,” Solangi told the Sun Herald. “When animals start breeding, it means things have started to get better.”