Caretta caretta sea turtles hatch on beaches in Sicily and Lazio

Caretta caretta sea turtles have been observed hatching on beaches in different regions of Italy. In San Giuliano, near Erice, lifeguards alerted the Coast Guard after spotting hatchlings emerging from the sand during a crowded holiday period. Authorities assisted in protecting the turtles' journey from the sand to the Mediterranean Sea.

In the Lazio region, a surprise hatching occurred on the Riviera di Ulisse near Formia. This discovery marks the 13th nest recorded in Lazio for the 2026 season. Notably, this specific nest was not identified during the initial egg-laying phase and was only discovered when the hatchlings emerged. Experts noted that this represents the southernmost nesting documented in the region in the last decade, highlighting the increasing importance of the Pontine coast for the species' reproduction.