TURTLES RETURNING AFTER 200 YEARS

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Alicante´s department of the environment has confirmed the presence of 129 Loggerhead Turtle eggs on the beaches of San Juan.

The eggs were noticed by beach technicians, who notified the ministry immediately, who in turn asked the University of Valencia for assistance.

On account of the beach chosen by the mother turtles was popular with swimmers, and cleaned on a daily basis, the decision was made to move the eggs to a quieter location.

The eggs were split into two batches, 89 of them were taken to the Parque Natural de l’Albufera, the remaining 40 taken to the Oceanográfico de Valencia to be placed in incubators, with an expected birth in August.

The find is considered of “huge importance” by environmental scientists, as there have only been four previous breeding attempts recorded in the last 200 years, in 2006 in Vera and Puçol, and in Catalonia and Alicante in 2011. Scientists say that the turtles normally return to breed on the beaches where they were born, which indicates that this find could be the first steps in the endangered species recovering along the Mediterranean coastline.

Over population of the beaches by tourists, damage and injury caused by fishing boats, and a reduction n food caused by overfishing, have all contributed to the decline in turtle numbers in recent years, resulting in an international campaign of protection.

The Oceanográfico de Valencia has a special reception facility for sea turtles, where they can undergo medical treatment and rest in the event of injury, before being released back into the wild.

Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/44369/

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