TURTLE-Y AWESOME
STUNNING snaps of migrating turtles could show one of the biggest sea turtle swarms ever captured on camera.
The images and accompanying video show thousands of green sea turtles flocking to Raine Island off the coast of Australia.
6
6
The turtles head towards the island each year to lay their eggs.
According to Australian Geographic, as many as 64,000 female green turtles are known to make the journey.
The academic publication also claims that the images could show one of the biggest swarms ever observed.
Some green turtles travel thousands of kilometres across the ocean to reach the popular egg laying spot.
6
The annual pilgrimage makes for some spectacular shots of the creatures in the waters surrounding the island.
6
The small sandy island lies on top of a coral reef and only measures 32 hectares in total.
It's located approximately 620 km north-northwest of Cairns in Queensland, Australia.
6
6
A drone was used to capture the migration last December.
Researchers took the footage so they could try and count the turtles.
Research like this helps to keep an eye on the endangered species.
Once the turtles get to the shore, they dig a nest into the sand.
They then lay their eggs and bury them again.
This is when the job of a green turtle mother is essentially done and they leave the eggs to fend for themselves.
Ancient beasts: Some of the world's longest-living creatures
- Aldabra giant tortoise - Species has been known to live to up to 255 years old, making it the oldest terrestrial animal in the world
- Glass sponges (pictured) - Found in the East China Sea and Southern Ocean, examples have been found that are over 10,000 years old
- Great Basin bristlecone pine - One tree is the oldest in North America at 5,067 years old
- Endolith - A microspopic organism that lives inside rock. One was found on the ocean floor in 2013 generation time of 10,000 years
- Hydra - an ocean species that does not age, making it technically immortal
- Creme Puff - The oldest known domestic cat, who died in Austin Texas in 2005 aged 38 years and three days
- Jeanne Calment - French great grandmother who died at 122 years and 164 days in 1997. She outlived both her daughter and grandson by several decades.
Most read in Science
In other news, the world's first public exhibition of juvenile olms, also referred to as 'baby dragons', is opening this month.
Animals and plants are dying out at the fastest rate since an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs.
And, mass elephant deaths in Botswana are baffling scientists as they struggle to work out what's killing the creatures.
What's your favourite sea creature? Let us know in the comments...
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]