Kuşadası sea turtle hatchlings rescued after disorientation

In the Kuşadası district of Aydın, a natural emergence of caretta caretta sea turtle hatchlings occurred outside of protected nesting areas. Local residents Gizem Toker Şavluk and Mehmet Şavluk discovered the hatchlings heading toward residential and commercial areas instead of the sea.

After notifying Bahattin Sürücü, President of the Ecosystem Protection and Nature Lovers Association (EKODOSD), the hatchlings were guided back to the water. Investigations at the Söke Sahil Sitesi beach revealed a nest containing 64 eggs. Of these, 59 hatchlings reached the sea during the night, while two additional live hatchlings were rescued after being found disoriented or stuck in seagrass roots.

Sürücü noted that artificial lighting on the beaches can disrupt the hatchlings' ability to navigate toward the sea. He advised citizens to avoid using bright lights when walking on the beach at night to prevent further disorientation of the wildlife.