Padre Island Kemps Ridley Release

About this spectacle

Each summer, staff and volunteers at Padre Island National Seashore carry small Kemp's ridley sea turtle hatchlings — among the most endangered sea turtles on Earth — down to the Gulf of Mexico shoreline and release them into the surf. Visitors watch as dozens of tiny turtles scramble across wet sand, instinctively orienting toward the ocean, and disappear into the breaking waves. The releases are intimate, emotionally charged events; you stand just feet from creatures making their first contact with the sea. The sound of crashing Gulf waves and the sight of hatchlings threading through the foam create a deeply moving wildlife encounter. Rangers typically explain the conservation program, adding context to the spectacle. These events stem from eggs incubated at the national seashore as part of a multi-decade recovery program for the critically endangered species.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak Jun — Aug

Getting there

Nearest airport: CRP. Nearest city: Corpus Christi.

Booking options

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