49 young loggerhead turtles hatched on Marbella beach

VOLUNTEERS and experts spent 16 days and nights protecting the loggerhead turtle eggs which were transferred from a busy beach in Los Boliches Fuengirola to Cabopino beach in Marbella as it gave a chance for the greatest number of hatchlings to emerge.

Although they weren’t expected until October, the first tiny creatures emerged over a period of nights during late September and in all 49 of these exotic reptiles which had never before hatched in this part of Spain emerged and were transferred to Algeciras where they will be cared for until they are large and healthy enough to be released into the sea.

A further 12 eggs were transferred to Bioparc Fuengirola in order to ensure that at least some would hatch and all that do make it will also be returned to the sea.

A large number of different people from vets to biologists, to night patrol volunteers all came together under the direction of Pro Dunas Marbella and were all delighted by the successful result with so many of the vulnerable turtles surviving.

This is the first recorded laying of eggs by this type of turtle anywhere on the Costa del Sol although there have been a very few occurrences in Costa Blanca in the past and it is thought that the turtles are now heading towards Spain and cooler waters due to climate change.