Loggerhead turtle conservation efforts reported in Spain

Approximately 70 loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) hatchlings recently emerged from a previously unnoticed nest at El Torres beach in Villajoyosa, Alicante. The event was discovered by a swimmer, prompting an immediate response from local police and emergency services. Specialists from the Oceanogràfic de València and the NGO Xaloc assisted in the process. While most hatchlings were released directly into the Mediterranean, about ten were moved to the Oceanogràfic de València to participate in a ‘head-starting’ conservation program, which provides specialized care to increase survival rates during their first months of life.

In a separate conservation effort, Andalusia has released 35 loggerhead turtles back into the sea following recovery and specialized care. These releases included animals found with injuries, those accidentally caught in fishing gear, and individuals born from nests in Almería. The animals were treated at the Centro de Gestión del Medio Marino Andaluz (Cegma) in Algeciras, where veterinary teams monitored their health, swimming ability, and physical condition before authorizing their return to the wild.