Small miracles are popping out of the mud around Myanmar’s largest lake: Burmese peacock softshell turtles, just hatched from their eggs. For what may be the first time, humans were there to witness the birth of these rare creatures.

The hatchlings — little pancakes on surprisingly quick legs — emerged from a hole in the ground this month and began crawling to new lives in Indawgyi Lake. Their early steps were captured on video by U Nyein Chan and U Yae Aung, local staff members of the international wildlife charity Fauna & Flora.