CHANDELEUR ISLANDS, La. (WNTZ) – Biologists say Louisiana is witnessing a historic conservation success this summer as endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle hatchlings have been documented crawling into the Gulf of Mexico from nests on the Chandeleur Islands.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Madison Sheahan Bosworth joined members of the agency’s executive staff, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a survey of the barrier island chain earlier this month.

So far this season, researchers have recorded 51 sea turtle crawls: 33 Kemp’s ridley, 15 loggerhead, one green sea turtle, and two from unidentified species. Officials said the findings mark a milestone for both wildlife conservation and Louisiana’s ongoing coastal restoration efforts.

During the survey, the team inspected eight active nests nearing hatching and observed two fresh nesting crawls. Several nests produced more than 100 hatchlings each. Researchers also conducted nest excavations to evaluate success rates, counting hatched eggshells and unhatched eggs. DNA samples were collected to help identify and study the nesting colony.

The team’s discovery underscores the Chandeleur Islands’ importance as vital nesting habitats for the Kemp’s ridley, the world’s most endangered sea turtle species. Until recently, the area’s population was undocumented.

Wildlife officials warn that without continued coastal restoration, the fragile islands may vanish within two decades, eliminating critical nesting grounds.

“This is a major win for sea turtles and a sign of how important it is to protect and restore Louisiana’s barrier islands,” LDWF said in a statement.