A study published in the journal Current Biology has shed light on as to why sea turtles are mostly observed as adults or hatchlings and their disappear when they are young turtles.

The research has shed light on the period of their disappearance. The researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Central Florida conducted an experiment in which they placed trackers on toddler turtles after they were caught in wild.

The researchers tracked 44 turtles for around two to three months. They were able to have a slight idea of what turtles are up to. The researchers then used modeled conditions in ocean currents and also employed carefully designed buoy drifter for comparison.

Study's co-researcher Kate Mansfield said, "This is the first study to release drifters with small, wild-caught yearling or neonate sea turtles in order to directly test the 'passive drifter' hypothesis in these young turtles".

They have come to know that even a slight degree of swimming can make a big difference in the dispersal of the young turtles. Turtles as young as six to 18 months of age become quite active swimmers.

After hatching, young sea turtles swim offshore and then disperse with the help of ocean currents. Hardly, they get observed before the next two to 10 years, said the researchers.

The researchers are quite positive that the data will help scientists know where the young sea turtles spend their earlier days. Also, wildlife conservatives will be able to protect the habitats of the young turtles.

The study researchers also think that the results have implications for better understanding early sea turtle survival and behavior.