Sadly, the main predator is the human kind. Eggs are dug up by people and sold as food and medicine. Saving the eggs often comes down to a race between the poacher and the biologist!
If properly protected, sea turtle eggs incubate in the nest. When the eggs are “ready,” the babies all emerge at the same time. They are tiny and can very easily fall prey to other animals on land and in the water. Left on their own, very few will make it to the often-massive size of their parents.
Marine turtle conservation organizations help to protect as many eggs and hatchlings as possible by educating the public. They teach people how to avoid nests, and about why it’s important to turn off lights on the beach at night (the lights can confuse the nesting females and the hatchlings). They also work to ensure that the hatchlings make it to the water.