The season has ended at İztuzu: Approximately 30,000 loggerhead turtle hatchlings from 495 nests made it to the sea
DEKAMER Field Coordinator Bumin Kağan Arslan stated that the first nest was built on May 1 and the last one on August 16.
This article was translated automatically from Turkish. Türkçe orijinal ›
This year’s nesting season has come to an end at İztuzu Beach in the Ortaca district of Muğla. Approximately 30,000 loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings, having completed their incubation period, emerged from 495 nests and made their way to the sea.
The efforts were carried out with the support of the General Directorate of Nature Conservation under the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, in collaboration with the Sea Turtle Research, Rescue, and Rehabilitation Center (DEKAMER). Teams protected the nests throughout the season and regularly monitored the population.
The season began in April, and the last nest was laid on August 16.
Bumin Kağan Arslan, DEKAMER’s Field Coordinator, stated that the nesting season began in April and that they identified the first nest on May 1. Arslan noted that the season typically ends in the first week of August, but this year the last nest was formed on August 16.
Arslan said, “We helped approximately 30,000 hatchlings from 495 nests at İztuzu Beach make their way to the blue waters.”
A female can lay 4–5 nests in a season
Arslan noted that a loggerhead sea turtle can build 4–5 nests in a single season, adding that the incubation period for the nests ranges from 45 to 60 days. After the incubation period, teams inspect each nest individually, rescue any hatchlings trapped inside, and close the nests after conducting a headcount.
Although fieldwork intensifies during the summer months, activities at the center continue year-round. Injured sea turtles are brought to DEKAMER upon report, where they undergo treatment and rehabilitation. Volunteers also provide support for both field and center operations.
The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is recognized as one of the most well-known sea turtle species in the Mediterranean and is protected under international treaties. Experts emphasize that limiting the use of artificial lighting on beaches at night and prohibiting vehicle access to nesting areas directly increases the rate at which hatchlings reach the sea. The efforts in Ortaca will continue using the same methods in the upcoming season.
İztuzu Beach is among Turkey’s most important Caretta caretta nesting areas. The nighttime usage restrictions and regular monitoring efforts implemented on the beach ensure that thousands of hatchlings safely reach the sea each year. You can follow other developments across Muğla on our news page.
