So, the turtle eggs did not hatch. The embryos died at a late stage of development, we are told. The reason given was that the layer of water-retaining blue clay underneath the sand became water-logged as a result of water from underneath the nest.

That is the official gobbledegook of course. No one is to blame except nature. How shortsighted of God's creation.

But, surprise, surprise. No mention was made in the statement which The Independent reports, that the eggs had been moved from the original place where the turtle laid them. The turtle was considered stupid by our 'authorities', she was a bad mother, did not know her job, so our all-knowing authorities moved the eggs. They provided another nesting place.

And the embryos died. Because of the water-retaining blue clay.

Can the all-knowing authorities tell us if there was blue clay in the original nest where the turtle laid her eggs? I wonder, what would have happened had a tragedy like this occurred after something Malta's hunters would have done? Come, come, Nature Trust. Tell us. Why keep mum. You are usually so voluble.

■ J. Borg,

Rabat.