Currumbin Wildlife Hospital rings in the new year with baby turtles

There's been some cute new baby animals born at Currumbin Sanctuary just in time for the new year

18 baby turtles have hatched at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Hospital.

CURRUMBIN Wildlife Hospital rang in the new year with the birth of 18 healthy baby turtles.

The adorable Brisbane short-neck turtles aren't much bigger than a 50c coin and were laid at the hospital about two months ago.

Their mother had been hit by a car at Robina as she ventured to a new waterway to lay her eggs.

Vets were able to save her and soon released her into the wild, but the tiny babies need more care before they can fend for themselves.

Currumbin Wildlife Hospital's senior vet Michael Pyne said the turtles were slowly beginning to eat, which meant they would soon be ready for their new life in the wild.

"There were 20 eggs and from them 18 turtles have survived, which is a good outcome," he said.

"When they're first born they live off a yolk sack in their shell, but once they can eat food they will be strong enough to be released.

"We will let them go in the Robina area near where they were found."

The past year was a bumper one for the hospital with a record number of animals coming through the centre.

In 2012 just 7000 needed care, while in 2013 more than 8500 animals spent time recuperating at the centre.

Dr Pyne said the clearing of animal habitats in development and the strong reputation the hospital had grown would mean a consistent increase in the number of animals through the door.

"We are finding we get a lot more birds than we ever did, especially with the clearing of vegetation for development," he said.

"At the moment we have nine owls who came to us when they lost their habitats, we have cared for them for a few months and will release them when they're old enough to hold their own."

18 baby turtles have hatched at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Hospital.