Transferred to l’Albufera de Valencia.
A dedicated 24-hour watch was organized to protect a sea turtle nest in Valencia, ensuring the highest possible hatch success for the future offspring. This effort is supported by the Generalitat Valenciana and a local non-governmental organization, reflecting a shared commitment to safeguarding nesting sites and promoting species recovery.
The Ministry of Ecological Transition of the Generalitat Valenciana, in collaboration with the NGO Xaloc, inaugurated the care camp at Parador del Saler in Valencia. The goal is to protect the only active sea turtle nest in the Mediterranean and to support its development through careful monitoring and veterinary oversight as needed.
The loggerhead sea turtle is a large species commonly found at the surface, a factor that has historically led to its easy capture by fishermen. Its distribution spans temperate, tropical, and subtropical seas around the world, underscoring the broad geographic scope of conservation concerns for this species.
Julio Gómez, the managing director of the Natural Environment, attended the launch alongside the Parador director, representatives from Albufera Natural Park, and collaborating companies. He highlighted the opportunities that Valencia’s coastline presents for protecting and restoring severely endangered species and emphasized the value of this initiative for boosting spawning success and conservation outcomes.
Volunteers and a team of dedicated staff will monitor the nest for 24 hours until the eggs hatch and the hatchlings emerge. Once ready, the young turtles are transferred to Oceanogràfic for veterinary assessment and care as part of routine husbandry procedures.
The nest was found on Les Ortigues beach in Guardamar del Segura on July 26 by a cleaning worker who attended a talk on sea turtle nests conducted by Conselleria and Xaloc staff, highlighting the value of outreach in nest discovery and protection.
Moved to L’Albufera de Valencia
The nesting event produced 131 eggs, the largest recorded in the Valencian Community. A portion, 100 eggs, were relocated to La Punta Beach within a protected segment of the Albufera Natural Park to improve viability, given heavy tourist presence in the primary spawning area. The remaining 31 eggs were placed in an incubator at the Valencia Oceanography Center, where the first hatchlings emerged, indicating the late developmental stage of the eggs placed there.
The aquarium reported that only two of the transferred eggs remained fertile, resulting in one surviving hatchling. While the low fertility rate is not fully understood, researchers are considering factors such as the female’s experience and the large number of clutches laid, with ongoing studies aimed at understanding coastal colonization patterns of sea turtles.
Some of the hatchlings will be released back at the Guardamar del Segura spawning beach, while others will remain at the Marine Animal Rescue and Conservation Area (ARCA del Mar) within Oceanogràfic for their first year. After this period, they will be fitted with GPS trackers to monitor their movements at sea and map their migratory routes.
Public administrations, NGOs such as Xaloc and the Global Nature Foundation, and private partners including Herbolarios Navarro, Decathlon, Singularu, and Ribé Salat, collaborate at the camp to ensure comprehensive care and monitoring of the nesting site and hatchlings.
If a sea turtle is spotted on the beach, it is crucial not to disturb the animal. Experts advise avoiding any touch. In such cases, contact emergency services at 112 or local authorities and gently guide the turtle away from crowded areas to reduce risk of harm.
Environment department contact details have been provided to facilitate coordination and reporting of nesting activity and related conservation efforts.