Dozens of juvenile green turtles incubated under the care of the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department and Ocean Park have been returned to the wild.

Department officers have released 61 turtles on Tai Long Wan beach in batches during a weeklong operation that finished at noon today. Upon leaving their natal beaches, the turtles will spend their first few years around seaweed mats in open waters.

Born free: Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department officers release 61 turtles on Tai Long Wan beach.

Right time

Wetland & Fauna Conservation Officer (Monitoring) Cheung Ka-shing said the release time takes into account suitable water temperature and current.

"It is the right time to send them back home to the sea. We arranged the release for July because apart from warmer water temperature, the water current off Tai Long Wan is moving towards open waters and will help push the turtles to their destination," he said.

"The timing also matches with the nesting season and incubation period of green turtles in Hong Kong. Setting them free on Tai Long Wan beach, the place of their birth, we hope they come back for breeding when they reach maturity."

Smooth operation

When released the turtles left the beach and swam away quickly. It is likely they will continue swimming with intermittent breaks until they reach the seaweed mats which provide shelter and food.

The department microchipped the turtles for future identification and took blood samples for scientific research.

Since hatching last December, the turtles have grown remarkably. In seven months they grew on average from 25g to 800g in weight and 5cm to 16cm in shell length.

Mr Cheung said their size and swimming and deep-diving skills make them relatively safe from predators at sea.

In captivity

The turtles have been kept at Wetland Park, Ocean Park and the department's headquarters. They were fed fish, squid, scallops, shrimp and vegetables. Some even went on display at the two parks.

Last September their mother was found nesting on Tai Long Wan. Because of the cooling weather and the risk of outside disturbance, the department collected the eggs for both artificial and natural incubation and eventually obtained 61 hatchlings.

Sea turtles have not nested on Tai Long Wan for over 30 years. The department will monitor the area and its vicinity for any new nesting.

The green turtle is an endangered species. Anyone seeing sea turtles in Hong Kong should call the department on 1823.