SAN DIEGO (AP) The population of endangered green sea turtles at SeaWorld grew by 82 in October when the eggs hatched on Shipwreck Beach without human help.

Assistant curator of fishes Tim Downing says they haven't had such happy turtle news at SeaWorld since 2003 when 21 sea turtles got an assist from park staff.

This time, the park let nature take its course and didn't incubate the eggs. The babies started poking through their ping pong-sized eggs on Oct. 5. Since then they have been getting a diet of squid, krill, shrimp and special pellets.

Downing says the babies are in excellent health and should go on display at the park before the end of the year.

http://www.kcbs.com/topic/ap_news.php?story=AP/APTV/State/CA/n/CA--SanDiego-SeaTurtl&tag=Box_79291_Outer_Div;Box_79291_Inner_Div

 [ send green star]