62 sea turtle hatchlings hatch on Palma's city beach - volunteers guard the night

62 sea turtle hatchlings hatch on Palma's city beach

When we went to Can Pere Antoni last night, there was the usual quiet on the beach: a few joggers, the city lights, and the salty smell of the sea. Then the good news: from a nest discovered in the summer, suddenly many little sea turtles hatched during the night. The authorities counted a total of 62 hatchlings, which are now under care.

How it all began

The nest was found in mid-July. Some eggs remained on the beach, moved to a more sheltered spot; others — exactly ten — were provisionally brought to artificial incubation. The first animals hatched already on Friday, with the rest following in the night from Sunday. Volunteers, staff of the local environmental protection agency, and city responders watched the site with flashlights and lukewarm coffee to avoid disturbances.

Care and protective measures

Directly after hatching the little ones are medically registered and measured. A specialized team from the Consortium for the Restoration of Balearic Fauna COFIB works together with the Aula de la Mar center and the research laboratory at the Port of Andratx LIMIA. There, the so-called Head-Starting program begins: the animals remain under controlled conditions for usually ten to twelve months so they have better chances of survival in the open sea later.

Volunteers make the difference

What I noticed: the many volunteers who took night shifts. They laid out blankets, marked the area, and made sure dogs and curious walkers stayed away. Such people are often the tipping point between success and failure in such sensitive actions.

What you can do

If you discover a group of small turtles or a nest on the beach: please avoid direct contact, no photos with flash, and report — best via the emergency number 112. This allows the official rescue protocol to take effect and reduces stress for the animals.

By the way: In Ibiza, in August at Es Cavallet, another nest with around 85 eggs was found. These are good signs because the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is considered endangered. More nesting attempts on beaches do not automatically mean full safety, but they show that protection measures work when we work together.

I was on site around 01:15, saw volunteers smiling as tiny shells briefly conquered the dunes. Small tip at the end: if you go for an evening stroll, bring a red-filter flashlight — it doesn't stress the animals as much.