Loggerhead turtles found increasingly on Spanish beaches.
Credit: Maximillian cabinet, Shutterstock
Successfully hatched Loggerhead turtles were recently released back into the Mediterranean on Marbella and Benalmadena beaches, but this not all good news.
Loggerhead turtles (also known as Caretta caretta) are being increasingly found on Spanish beaches. As reported recently by the Euro Weekly News, eggs which were found on Cabopino beach in 2023, hatched recently at Fuengirola’s Bioparc facilities, and then released back into the Mediterranean at the same beach in July 24, and again one week later again in Benalmadena.
But this is not a natural phenomenon on Spanish beaches and there have been scores of recent sightings on the shores of the Costa Brava, Costa del Sol, Murcia and Mallorca. In fact, this is a worrying omen of things to come.
Warming waters separating turtle sexes
The waters around Greece, Turkey and Cyprus are heating up, and the turtles are heading west to where the Mediterranean mixes with cooler Atlantic water. This change in temperatures is causing there to be born more female turtles than males in the East, calling into question the future of the species.
Sea turtles are philopatric, which means the temperature of the nesting egg determines whether a male or female turtle is hatched. The higher the temperature of the sand where the eggs are nested, the more chance they have of developing into females, and vice versa. Research shows that if a turtle s eggs incubate below 27.7°C, the turtle hatchlings will be male. If the eggs incubate above 31°C, however, the hatchlings will definitely be female, potentially leading to more males in the Western Mediterranean, and more females in the East. This is separation of the sexes is a situation which could have a devastating impact on the species.
What to do if you discover a turtle or its eggs
On discovering a sea turtle or its eggs on a Spanish beach, it is essential not to disturb the area. According to César-Javier Palacios, naturalist and geographer, the procedure to follow is:
Do not make noise
Do not take photos with flash or illuminate the female in any way
Move away from the area at least 30 meters
Don t step on the turtle’s tracks
Calling 112 will activate a protocol and professionals will be sent immediately to the area.
Sign up for personalised news
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our
Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Passionate about music, food and the arts. After being completely immersed in the Spanish way of life for 25 years, I now share my knowhow and experience with you.
Leave a comment Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Website
Comment for robots
Known as the PEOPLE’S PAPER, Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain. And it’s FREE!
Covering the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Almeria, Axarquia, Mallorca and beyond, EWN supports and inspires the individuals, neighbourhoods, and communities we serve, by delivering news with a social conscience. Whether it’s local news in Spain, UK news or international stories, we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home.
With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month, EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain. The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close.
Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP), Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall). All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers. All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE.
Sign up for personalised news
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Close
