On one of the quietest nights of summer, under the moonlight, a thin shadow moves towards the beach… It is a loggerhead sea turtle, a loggerhead, returning to the same beach, perhaps for years. No one hears her arrival, but every step she takes means a lot to nature.
Caretta carettas are magnificent creatures that have existed for millions of years and return to the same beach for generations. Every summer, they come ashore to lay their eggs on Turkey’s coasts, especially on beaches such as Dalyan, İztuzu, Çıralı, Belek, and Anamur. The struggle of those small hatchlings to emerge from their eggs and reach the sea is one of the most impressive survival stories in nature.
But it is heartbreaking to know that this story gets more difficult with each passing year.
A Miracle in Peril
According to the UCN Red List, Caretta carettas are “endangered”. Coastal developments, night lights, plastic waste and boat traffic threaten their lives. Especially hatchlings can get lost due to the beach lights and head to land instead of the sea. Fishing lines and motorized vehicles in the sea also pose a serious risk to adult turtles.
Therefore, it is very important to be careful when walking on the beaches where they spawn, not to use lights, and even to pick up our garbage.
Let's Get to Know Caretta Caretta Closer
Caretta caretta, the loggerhead sea turtle, is a very delicate and fragile species that breeds regularly in only a few areas of the world. On average, they can be 70-90 cm long and weigh 70-110 kg. It is sometimes possible to encounter individuals over 1 meter long. It gets its name from its relatively large head.
The life cycle of this species is a miracle of nature in itself. Female loggerheads return to the beach where they were born years later and lay their eggs on the same beaches. Their navigational skills are still a subject of fascination for scientists.
Ovulation Process
Between May and September, they land silently at night, especially on the coasts of Antalya (Belek, Kemer), Muğla (Dalyan, Iztuzu), Mersin and Anamur. They bury their eggs at a depth of about 40-60 cm. Each female can lay eggs several times in one summer season. The average number of eggs they lay at a time is between 80-120.
The chicks hatch in about 50-60 days and instinctively follow the light to reach the sea. Unfortunately, they face many threats in this process, such as birds, foxes and humans.
Loggerheads spend most of their lives on the high seas. Sometimes they draw migration routes of thousands of kilometers. Individuals born on the coasts of Turkey can spread to the Mediterranean, Aegean and even the Atlantic Ocean until they reach adulthood.
How Caretta Carettas Feed
Large turtles are carnivorous creatures. They feed mainly on marine molluscs (mussels, periwinkles), crustaceans, jellyfish and sometimes small fish. Thanks to their powerful jaws, they can easily break even hard shells. In this way, they play a balancing role in the marine ecosystem.
Life Expectancy of Loggerhead Carettas
The average life expectancy of a loggerhead caretta varies between 50 and 70 years. However, due to the threats they face in nature, it is known that this potential lifespan is not completed by most individuals.
Conservation Studies in Turkey and the World
In Turkey, non-governmental organizations such as the Ecological Research Association (EKAD) and DEKAMER monitor caretta carettas, mark nests, protect nature and raise public awareness with volunteer teams, especially during the summer months. In addition, within the scope of the work carried out by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, certain beaches are taken under protection.
As we mentioned before, the IUCN (World Union for Conservation of Nature) classifies this species as “endangered”. The protection of turtles is mandatory under international agreements (such as CITES, Bern Convention) for species threatened with extinction.
So what can we do?
- While on vacation, we should not light fires on the beach and remember to pick up our garbage.
- We should be especially careful in designated protection zones during the turtle nesting period (May – September).
- Beachfront hotels and businesses can keep night lights to a minimum to avoid disorientation.
- By reducing our use of plastic, we can help keep the seas cleaner.
Why are they important?
Sea turtles are not just cute animals; they are an important part of the marine ecosystem. In particular, they have roles such as keeping seagrass meadows in balance and controlling the population of some sea creatures. So the extinction of loggerheads can affect all marine life in a chain.
Frequently asked questions and associated answers
The risk of extinction is increasing, especially as human impact on spawning beaches increases. According to the IUCN, they are in the “endangered” category.
The places where they are most common in Turkey: Dalyan, Iztuzu, Belek, Cirali, Anamur. They usually come to the beach to spawn between May and September.
Under natural conditions, they can live an average of 50-70 years. However, the number of individuals that can live this entire period is very low.
Absolutely not. It is a native species and has a special life cycle that needs to be protected.
