Story By: Juan Fenandez Mayes,  Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

This is the moment hundreds of recently-hatched turtles dash into the sea as park rangers stand watch to ensure their safety.

The moment was filmed in the Playona Acandi Fauna and Flora Sanctuary located in the Colombian municipality of Acandi in the state of Choco.

The video shows a large number of the baby Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) which can be seen on the sand fluttering their feet as they try to get to the water.

They are completely covered in sand allowing them to blend in well to their surroundings. Several turtles can be seen approaching the water while the rest follow behind as the video comes to an end.

The baby turtles were spotted in the Los Balsos and Los Coquitos y Maniburro beaches where 910 turtles were taken from seven nests by to make sure the turtles reached the waters safely.

The animal sanctuary issued a statement saying they want to “reiterate to Colombians the importance of protecting and conserving protected areas as well as the ecosystems and the animals associated with them” to accompany the video.

Hawksbill sea turtles are considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.

Their lowering of numbers is thought to be caused by human fishing practices which are now outlawed by the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species.

The Hawksbill sea turtle in the past were one of the main sources in the making of tortoiseshell material which was typically used for decorative purposes.

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