Date Published: 02/08/2021
ARCHIVED - First batch of Loggerhead turtles born in Marbella released into the sea
These endangered animals were born last September in Málaga, Andalucía, and looked after by over 200 volunteers
The first Loggerhead turtles, born in Marbella, have been released into the wild, after being looked after by more than 200 volunteers.
Around a year ago, August 6, 2020, a local resident spotted one of the turtles making a nest on the busy Los Boliches beach in Fuengirola. The resident informed the authorities and the regional government decided to move the nest to a quieter beach: Cabopino beach in Marbella.
The beach in Marbella had the same temperature and humidity conditions as the first beach in Fuengirola and extensive measures were taken to protect the nest, including building a wall around it and organising over 200 volunteers to monitor the area.
At the end of September, the Loggerhead turtles emerged from the sand; 39 were taken to the Marine Environment Management Centre (Cegma) in the Strait of Gibraltar and another 15 were taken to the Sevilla Aquarium.
Now that the endangered turtles are large enough to not be at risk from predators, the first batch has been released into the sea from the Fuengirola beach where their mother made the nest.
📹 El presidente @JuanMa_Moreno participa en #Fuengirola (#Málaga) en una suelta de tortugas boba. ✅ pic.twitter.com/i5cQaQvlIg
— Junta de Andalucía (@AndaluciaJunta) August 1, 2021
This species of turtle (Caretta caretta) is included on the list of animals in danger of extinction due to the fact that their population is declining rapidly, as they face several threats from humans, including fishing, loss of habitat, plastic contamination and climate change.
The president of Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, helped to release the turtles on Sunday (August 1) and he issued a reminder to the population that “if we continue to throw plastic in the sea” these turtles and many other animals won’t survive.
In May, a young Loggerhead turtle was rescued with a mouth full of plastic on a Málaga beach and required veterinary intervention.
More of the young turtles are set to be released this September, with satellite markers, which will allow experts to study their behavior, routes and survival in their natural environment.
IMAGES: Juanma Moreno Twitter
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