Wildlife officers keeping watch over the nest through CCTV noticed the sand above the nest collapsing early yesterday morning, reported the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR).
The officers kept watch, with the first baby turtles breaking through the sand at about 10pm.
In total, 72 baby turtles made it across the sand to the water’s edge unassisted, with a further nine baby turtles needing a little help, the DMCR noted.
Concerned more baby turtles might need help, the officers then uncovered the nest and found two fully fertilised eggs which were taken into care to be hatched through incubation.
The officers also found 19 fertilised eggs that failed to hatch, along with 14 unfertilised eggs and 27 empty egg shells.
The DMCR noted that the turtles hatched right on time, 56 days after the eggs were laid by their mother on Dec 9. At the time, the nest was the ninth turtle nest found laid on beaches in the area during the current turtle egg-laying season.
That number has now climbed to 17.