ARCHIVED - WATCH: Incredible images of nesting loggerhead turtle at Guardamar beach in Alicante

The turtle laid 130 eggs, the largest clutch recorded in the Valencia Region in recent years

Images of an incredible natural spectacle have been captured in Guardamar del Segura after a huge loggerhead turtle was discovered nesting on Ortigues Beach.

The female turtle, with a shell measuring 78 by 71 inches, was spotted half buried in the sand on Tuesday morning, July 26, after having laid 130 eggs, the largest number of all the nests registered in the Valencian Region in recent years.

Thirty-one of them have been transferred to the Oceanográfico where they will be incubated in the hope as many will hatch as possible, whilst the other 99 have been transferred to El Saler beach.

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Guardamar Mayor, José Luis Sáez, who shared the images on social networks, explained that as soon as the loggerhead turtle was spotted at around 11am, 112 protocol was activated by the beach cleaning services, Red Cross lifeguard services, Local Police and the Guardia Civil's Seprona, and the stretch of coastline was closed to the public to protect the nesting site.

Scientists from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, the University of Valencia, the Ministry of the Environment, the NGO Xaloc and a team from the Oceanographic Park then carried out an ultrasound scan, which indicated that the turtle will lay more eggs in approximately 15 days.

After giving the turtle a thorough condition check and taking genetic samples, it was fitted with a GPS locator and a microchip so that scientists can keep track of its movements.

The loggerhead, named Katherine after a young American marine biologist who died recently, was then returned to the sea.

All loggerhead turtle populations are listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The biggest threats facing the pecies are bycatch in fishing gear, loss and degradation of nesting habitat, vessel strikes, and getting caught up in marine debris.

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Image: José Luis Sáez Facebook