Meet Mona: New sea turtle delights Dénia with surprise beach nest

Dénia’s coastline has welcomed another extraordinary visitor, with a loggerhead sea turtle nicknamed Mona laying a nest of eggs just hours after the town’s most famous returning turtle, Diana, made yet another appearance.

The double nesting event has delighted marine conservationists and volunteers, who say it highlights the growing importance of Dénia’s beaches as a safe nesting site for loggerhead turtles in the western Mediterranean.

While Diana has become something of a local celebrity after repeatedly returning to nest in Dénia over recent years, it was newcomer Mona who became the unexpected star of the weekend.

Mona surprises conservation teams

After Diana’s latest nesting triggered the established turtle protection protocol, conservation teams were already monitoring the coastline when another female turtle emerged.

The new arrival, later named Mona, came ashore under the cover of darkness and successfully laid her own clutch of eggs, giving scientists two separate nesting events within the same weekend.

The discovery prompted an immediate response involving marine biologists, volunteers, local police and environmental specialists. Following established conservation procedures, the eggs were carefully secured to maximise their chances of survival, while specialists recorded valuable scientific information about the nesting female.

Why Dénia is becoming a turtle hotspot

Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) are increasingly choosing parts of Spain’s Mediterranean coast for nesting, with experts linking the trend to warmer sea temperatures and changing environmental conditions.

Dénia has become one of the region’s most significant nesting locations in recent years, thanks to a combination of suitable beaches, rapid emergency response and a network of trained volunteers who protect nests around the clock.

Diana herself has played a major role in that story. She was first identified through a microchip after earlier nesting seasons and has continued returning to the same coastline, allowing researchers to monitor her movements and breeding behaviour over several years.

Public urged to keep their distance

With nesting season still underway, authorities are reminding beachgoers to remain vigilant.

Anyone who spots a sea turtle, fresh tracks in the sand or a possible nest should avoid approaching the animal or using flash photography. Instead, they should immediately call 112, allowing the official marine turtle protection protocol to be activated.

For conservationists, Mona’s arrival is another encouraging sign that Dénia is becoming one of the Mediterranean’s most important breeding grounds for this threatened species. With Diana continuing her remarkable return visits and Mona now joining the story, the town’s beaches are proving increasingly attractive to one of the sea’s most iconic creatures.