Twisters hatched on a beach in the Pyrénées-Orientales in the last 48 hours. A female turtle laid eggs at the end of July and her nest was under surveillance.
This week the city of Saint-Cyprien in the Pyrenees Orientales had the joy of celebrating a happy event. And with good reason, about fifteen eggs hawksbill turtles hatched on the beach in recent days. A good first for the department, which closely followed the coming birth of these little twists.
The female turtle laid her eggs on the sand at the end of July 2024. Since then, a fence has been placed to protect the unborn babies, reports France 3. The good news was shared on social networks by the Pyrénées-Orientales prefecture, which specified that “Protective measures are still in place: no-entry zone and safe passage”.
14 nests in 2023 on the southern beaches
Many carp turtles prefer French and Corsican beaches along the Mediterranean Sea to lay eggs. 14 nests were recorded on the southern beaches in the summer of 2023. Some of these reptiles have already been seen on the Atlantic and English Channel sides as well. Nests have also been discovered among our Spanish and Italian neighbors.
In March 2022, an appeal was launched by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to strengthen the protection of the nesting areas in the Mediterranean of these endangered animals, which can weigh up to 500 kg. And for good reason: sea turtles are often victims of human-caused pollution, such as plastic dumped in the water. which can obstruct their airways. They also suffer from climate change and are disoriented due to warm currents that can sometimes push away their prey, such as molluscs or fish.