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The Mar Menor witnessed another heart-warming conservation success story on Tuesday morning, July 2, as thirty young loggerhead turtles made their journey back to the sea at Ensenada del Esparto beach in La Manga.

 

These endangered turtles hatched from a nest of 90 eggs discovered and carefully protected on this same beach last summer.

 

The momentous occasion brought together key figures in San Javier’s environmental conservation efforts. Minister of the Environment, Universities, Research and Mar Menor Juan María Vázquez joined San Javier Mayor José Miguel Luengo to witness these magnificent creatures return to their natural habitat.

 

Tuesday’s event marks another milestone in an ongoing conservation effort that has now seen nearly 200 loggerhead turtle specimens released along the Region of Murcia coast in recent years.

 

Extraordinary efforts are being made to repopulate the loggerhead turtle in Murcia, a species which is sadly still in danger of extinction. Councillor Juan María Vázquez explained that it took a huge spirit of collaboration between San Javier Town Council, volunteers and organisations like the El Valle Wildlife Recovery Centre to guard this valuable nest.

 

The minister also recognised the crucial contributions of the Valencia Oceanographic Centre and IMIDA, whose expertise enabled these tiny hatchlings to grow from just 20 grams to a healthy 1 kilos each.

 

The loggerhead turtle, known scientifically as Caretta caretta, faces numerous threats in the wild including habitat loss, pollution, fishing net entanglement and climate change impacts on nesting beaches.

 

Conservation programs like the one in La Manga provide crucial support for species recovery by ensuring higher survival rates during the most vulnerable early stages of turtle development.

 

As another summer season enters full swing, Mr Vázquez has taken the opportunity to remind beachgoers that if they spot a nest, they should immediately call 112 and refrain from touching or disturbing the eggs in any way.

 

 

Images: Ayuntamiento de San Javier