In the upper Adriatic, the summer resort is not exclusive to bathers and tourists. Loggerhead turtles have lived in this area for a long time, but only now have they started using its beaches to nest in summer.
On June 24, on the coast of Cervia, a turtle laid 91 eggs, albeit too close to sun loungers and parasols. An association of marine biologists had to intervene.
Andrea Ferrari of the Adriatic Turtles Organization highlights: “We collected these 91 eggs, which had been laid by the female tortoise, and moved them into a new nest, which we have rebuilt exactly as it originally was and placed the eggs in the same order in which they were laid.”
The new nest is fenced and guarded by up to 130 volunteers, who guarantee the protection of the nest 24 hours a day. A large team thanks to the fact that the association that manages the nest put up a post on social networks. The presence of sea turtles in the Adriatic Sea is not a recent event, but in recent years it seems that they also like to swim in these waters in winter and that they spend practically all their lives in this area.
Simone D’Acunto, representative of Cestha, the Center for the Protection of the Habitat of these animals, points out:“Due to climate change and warming water, turtles tend to stay longer in these seas. Historically, they stayed in these waters, because the upper Adriatic is a feeding ground, but now they stay here even during the winter season. , instead of migrating to other warmer waters, as they used to do in the past.”
Protection also extends to adult turtles, which often end up stranded or caught in fishing nets, suffering injuries to their shells caused by propellers, or lung problems. In the turtle shelter there are at least 50 specimens.
In the second half of August, the eggs will open and a little turtle will be born in the sand. Without thinking twice, he will start running towards the sea.
