Sea turtle hatchlings released Saturday morning Hundreds gathered at the Padre Island National Seashore Saturday morning for the release of 232 Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle hatchlings. Author: KIII Staff Updated: 6:15 PM CDT July 24, 2021 CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Saturday a public release of the endangered Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle hatchlings took place for the first time in two years. The pandemic shut down these public releases last year, Saturday park officials released 232 hatchlings in front of a crowd of hundreds at the Padre Island National Seashore. The hatchlings were from six nests collected on June 7. Dr. Donna Shaver says having people at these public releases is important to their mission of saving this endangered species.