Sea turtle hatchlings emerge on beaches in Elba and Sardinia

Recent wildlife sightings in Italy have highlighted the emergence of Caretta caretta sea turtle hatchlings in two different locations.

On the island of Elba, 65 sea turtles were born on Fetovaia beach on August 24, 2026. This represents the only confirmed nest of the species on the island for the 2026 season. The hatching was monitored by Isa Tonso of the Life TurtleNest project, a collaboration between Legambiente and the Tuscan Archipelago National Park.

In Cardedu, Sardinia, approximately 50 hatchlings emerged from a nest near the Perd’e Pera Resort. The young turtles were initially disoriented by artificial lights from a nearby kiosk, moving away from the sea instead of toward it. Local staff and the Arbatax Naval Base of the Forestry and Environmental Vigilance Corps intervened by turning off the lights and guiding the turtles to the water to ensure their safety. The nest remains under observation.