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Date Published: 18/06/2024

Two furry recruits join the Spanish turtle watch brigade

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Endangered loggerhead turtles have already been spotted nesting on Costa Blanca beaches

Two furry recruits join the Spanish turtle watch brigade

Over the next few weeks, expecting loggerhead turtle mums will be making their way ashore up and down the Mediterranean coast, searching for the perfect sandy spot to lay their eggs. On the Orihuela Costa, one of these protected females has already been spotted inspecting the shore at Playa de la Glea in Campoamor, and the tracks of another were found on Playa les Ortigues in Guardamar del Segura.

Loggerhead turtles are a protected species so their nesting efforts are carefully monitored and safeguarded by teams of dedicated volunteers. This year, the turtle conservation efforts in Alicante have been joined by two furry recruits: specially trained dogs from the Oceanogràfic Foundation.

These canine companions will be volunteering their extraordinary skills to help locate and protect sea turtle nests along the coast.

At the Pinedo dog beach in Valencia, the dynamic duo showed off their impressive abilities last week. Trained by animal behaviour specialists David Barroso and Alicia Caravias, the dogs successfully located simulated sea turtle nests during a demonstration. Using their keen sense of smell, they identified the nests and then sat down as a signal of discovery.

This initiative is part of the 'Turtles in the Mediterranean 2024' awareness campaign, with the catchy motto “Here we save turtles”. The campaign is now in its fifth edition and aims to educate citizens on what to do if they come across an injured sea turtle along the coasts of the Valencian Community the Region of Murcia, Andalucia and the Balearic Islands.

During the launch event, the president of the Oceanogràfic Foundation, Celia Calabuig, highlighted the importance of this campaign. She was joined by researchers and conservationists who shared insights into their work with sea turtles, emphasising the significance of these initiatives for the marine world.

The campaign includes the placement of more than 1,700 posters in highly visible locations, such as 'mupis' (urban information panels) in collaborating towns and on Valencia Metro and Alicante Tram supports. The goal is to reach as many people as possible and ensure that everyone knows what to do if they spot a sea turtle in need.

So, if you're spending time on the beach this summer, keep an eye out for these gentle giants. And if you do see a sea turtle, remember to call 112 to activate the Emergency Network.

Last year, several nests were disturbed by curious beachgoers, and a few turtles refused to lay their eggs because of gathering crowds, so the awareness campaign is more important than ever to ensure a successful 2024 breeding season. Together, we can give these majestic creatures a helping flipper and ensure their conservation for generations to come.

In other news: These are the beaches in Alicante awarded the dreaded Black Flag

Images: Oceanogràfic València

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