Nesting Kemp's ridley sea turtle returns to the water after nesting at Padre Island National Seashore on 24 April 2009. A record 117 Kemp?s ridley nests were located at the park during 2009, marking the sixth consecutive year that record numbers of Kemp's ridley nests have been recorded at the park since record keeping began in 1980.Park: Padre Island National SeashoreDate Taken: 04/09Photographer: NPS StaffLocation: Padre Island National SeashoreFig. 2. NPS staff record data on a nesting Kemp's ridley sea turtle on 23 April 2009. Park: Padre Island National SeashoreDate Taken: 04/09Photographer: NPS StaffLocation: Padre Island National Seashore, 1 mile marker, South BeachFig. 3. A hatchling Kemp's ridley crawls towards the water on 1 August 2009. Kemp?s ridley sea turtle eggs are incubated at Padre Island National Seashore and the hatchlings are released soon after they emerge. The public was invited to attend 23 hatchling releases in 2009. Park: Padre Island National SeashoreDate Taken: 08/09Photographer: NPS StaffLocation: Padre Island National SeashoreFig. 4. Hatchling Kemp's ridley crawls towards the water on 25 June 2009. Kemp?s ridley sea turtle hatchlings are released at Padre Island National Seashore. The public was invited to attend 23 hatchling releases in 2009. Park: Padre Island National SeashoreDate Taken: 06/09Photographer: NPS StaffLocation: Padre Island National Seashore, Malaquite BeachFig. 5. NPS staff collect eggs from a Kemp?s ridley nest on 27 May 2009.Park: Padre Island National SeashoreDate Taken: 05/09Photographer: NPS StaffLocation: Padre Island National Seashore, 4.8 mile marker

In 2009, 117 Kemp's ridley sea turtle nests were found at Padre Island National seashore. This marks the sixth consecutive year that record numbers of Kemp's ridley nests have been recorded in the park since record keeping began in 1980.

• Keywords: kemp's ridley sea turtle; sea turtle; endangered species; beach; reptile; Endangered and threatened animals; Reptiles; Wildlife management