Shifting sands

When the sun sets, a baby turtle's life has only just begun

- Khursheed Dinshaw

KOSGODA, SRI LANKA

"IT WAS A FEW MINUTES BEFORE sunset and I was standing with anticipation in front of a sand enclosure at the Kosgoda Sca Turtle Conservation Project in Sri Lanka. Small steel boards on wooden sticks were placed at intervals, each one stating the turtle species, number of eggs buried in the sand, and the date they were buried. I stared intently down at the sand. Any minute now the turtle hatchlings would emerge.

Suddenly, the sand parted and the tiny head of the first hatchling became visible. It was not alone. Soon, others emerged, all in a hurry to experience light and life for the first time.