Caretta caretta sea turtles spotted nesting in Italy

Recent sightings and hatchings of Caretta caretta sea turtles have been reported along the Italian coast, highlighting the ongoing efforts to protect the species in the Mediterranean.

In Villasimius, at the Is Traias beach, five live sea turtle hatchlings were rescued after a nest was discovered following its incubation period. The nest had not been identified during deposition and remained unprotected. Upon inspection, officials found 77 empty shells, one broken egg, and 16 lifeless hatchlings. The five survivors were monitored at the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area first aid center before being released back into the sea. The operation involved the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area staff, the Environmental Surveillance Corps, the Region, and the CNR of Oristano.

In Gela, a new nest containing 26 eggs was identified on July 5. Volunteers have been monitoring the site and recently constructed a protected tunnel to guide the hatchlings toward the shoreline, preventing them from being disoriented by artificial lights. This follows previous successful nesting events in Gela in 2022 and 2024, reinforcing the area's importance as a breeding site for the species.