Amazing mating scene of sea turtles!
The mating has begun, and I quietly approach to film the action.
Mating is not easy for the female sea turtle. She must swim, and rise to breathe for both
of them. The male's long tail holds the female and fertilizes the eggs, while claws
on his front flippers give him the ability to grasp the female's shell.
The commotion doesn't go unnoticed by other males in the area. They flock to the mating
pair, which have drifted away from the reef.
In competition for a limited number of females, the other males look for ways to dislodge
the suitor. One challenger bites his flipper. When that doesn't work, he tries a blast
of air bubbles. He tries sticking his head between the mating pair, hoping to wedge them
apart.
Through it all, the mating male must hang on and tough it out. Fighting back would mean
losing his grip, and that's just what his rivals want.
Eventually, no less than four additional male turtles arrive to challenge the suitor. They
all try the same techniques, and it's starting to wear him down.
Meanwhile, the female is near exhaustion. The male is only struggling to hold on. The
female is struggling to survive.
Seeing this incredible struggle in person for the first time gives me a lot of respect
for sea turtles.
Hours later, the male has outlasted his rivals. He fertilizes the female's eggs, and with
luck, his genes will continue on.
As if her job weren't hard enough already, the female now faces another tremendous task
to lay the eggs, but it must wait until nightfall.