Following a Mystery in the Sand: How ChatGPT Helped Me Track and Find a Beach Creature

by Remiz · May 11, 2025

Sometimes, the best adventures start with a simple question.
This time, it wasn’t just me walking on the beach — it was me, a mysterious trail in the sand… and ChatGPT helping guide me in real-time.

Here’s the story of how I followed a trail, got live advice from ChatGPT, and ended up finding a tiny, fascinating creature — with photos to prove it!

It All Started With a Strange Trail

While wandering along the private beach of the resort in Maraikayar Pattinam during my recent trip to Dhanushkodi ( the Ghost town in Thamil Nadu, India), I noticed a thin, winding trail etched into the sand.
It wasn’t human footprints. It wasn’t from a bird.
It looked… different. I was worried if it was snake.

Curious (and feeling a little adventurous), I snapped a photo and shared it with ChatGPT, asking:

“What animal could have made this?”

Unknown Trail in the beach sand

ChatGPT’s Help: Analyzing the Clues

ChatGPT carefully studied the patterns in the sand and explained that the trail didn’t look like a snake’s slither — it had the signs of small legs pushing against the sand.
The direction of the sand pushes suggested that the creature had traveled from the bottom of my photo toward the top.

The guidance felt like having a naturalist right beside me, whispering hints.

Encouraged, I decided to follow the trail step-by-step, letting curiosity pull me deeper into the beach.

Finding the Trail’s Owner

After some patient tracking, I spotted movement near a tiny burrow…
There it was — the artist behind the trail: a ghost crab!

Ghost Crab in Maraikayar Pattinam Beach

Ghost crabs are masters of camouflage. Pale, almost translucent, they blend perfectly into the sandy background.
Without ChatGPT’s earlier analysis, I might not have known what I was even looking for.

The Question: Should I Catch It?

The next thought came naturally:
“Could I catch him? Could my son keep him as a pet?”

Once again, I asked ChatGPT, and the advice was clear and kind:

Ghost crabs aren’t dangerous — at most, they can give a tiny pinch if scared.
If captured, it should only be for a short observation, not permanent keeping.
It’s better for the crab (and the magic of the moment) to watch it for a while and then let it be free.

This felt deeply right — so I chose to simply watch him for a few minutes, feeling connected to the life buzzing all around me on the beach.

Dreaming Even Bigger: Finding Baby Turtles

Inspired by the encounter, I asked ChatGPT one more dreamy question:
“How could I find baby sea turtles on the beach?”

I learned:

Hatchlings emerge mostly at night or early mornings.
They leave tiny craters and zigzagging trails toward the ocean.
It’s important not to touch or interfere unless they are in danger.
Bright lights (even phone lights) can confuse them — so moving softly and quietly is key.

Even though I didn’t find hatchlings that day, the idea that they were somewhere out there, making their ancient journey to the sea, made the beach feel even more alive and sacred.

Final Thoughts: A Shared Adventure

This beach adventure was different from any other — because it wasn’t just about what I saw.
It was about the conversation, the curiosity, and the live discovery with ChatGPT guiding me step-by-step.
Almost like having a gentle, wise friend whispering ideas and encouragement beside me.