Nearly 500,000 Loggerhead Turtles Hatch in Antalya
Conservation Success in Numbers
According to conservation monitoring data, 9,160 nests were recorded on officially designated nesting beaches within the province, resulting in 429,616 hatchlings reaching the sea.
Positive Trend: The loggerhead turtle is classified as a species at high risk of extinction in the wild under international conservation assessments. Türkiye’s Mediterranean coastline includes some of the most critical nesting habitats for this species, where thousands of hatchlings emerge each summer.
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Key Nesting Site: Belek Beach
The most productive nesting site this year was Belek Beach in the Serik district. Around 141,750 hatchlings reached the sea from 3,150 nests recorded in the area. Belek is also Türkiye’s longest nesting beach, stretching 29.3 kilometers.
Of the 22 officially recognized sea turtle nesting beaches in Türkiye, nine are located in Antalya, highlighting the province’s key role in protecting turtle populations.
Sea Turtles: Ancient Mariners Under Threat
Scientific research shows that sea turtles have existed in the oceans for more than 100 million years, with the oldest known fossils dating back approximately 150 million years. These animals play a vital role in marine and coastal ecosystems by helping regulate populations of seagrass and jellyfish.
Critical Threat: However, over the past two centuries, human activity has become the primary threat to their survival.
Facts About Sea Turtles in Türkiye
- Species: Only two species of sea turtles regularly nest in Türkiye: the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas).
- Lifespan: Sea turtles can live 100–120 years.
- Nesting Behavior: Males never come ashore, while females return to land solely to lay eggs, typically depositing 100 to 150 eggs per nest.
- Survival Odds: Of every thousand hatchlings that reach the water, only two to three are estimated to survive to adulthood.
Conservation Efforts in Türkiye
In Türkiye, conservation and monitoring efforts for sea turtles are coordinated by the Nature Conservation units of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, with the participation of scientific institutions and volunteers.
Visitor Responsibility: If you visit a nesting beach, respect marked nesting areas, avoid using bright lights at night, do not disturb nests, and take all trash with you. Human presence is one of the greatest threats during the nesting and hatching season.
Summary: Antalya's beaches saw 429,616 loggerhead turtle hatchlings reach the sea in 2024 from 9,160 nests. Belek Beach was the most active site. Ongoing conservation work is critical for this endangered species.
