This morning, the beach of Puerto Banús in Marbella hosted the release of baby loggerhead turtles that just a year ago were laid by a female on the nearby beach of Nueva Andalucía. As of today, a total of 49 have begun their journey by sea; nine of them incubated last summer by Bioparc Fuengirola in its facilities. Of this, Five carry satellite locators that will allow them to track their routes and know their positions in real time over the coming months..
The event was attended by all the agents who have participated in the complex task of raising these turtles, work carried out under the umbrella of the framework of the Sustainable Management Program of the Andalusian Marine Environment, coordinated by the Department of Sustainability, Environment and Blue Economy of the Junta de Andalucía, from this Territorial Delegation of Sustainability, Environment and Blue Economy.
Turtles now have a size that significantly reduces their mortality rate in the natural environment
With this release, A long work that began in 2023 is concluded after the laying of more than 60 eggs on the Marbella beach of Nueva Andalucía. After its location, the original nest was monitored and maintained, as well as the artificial and controlled incubation carried out by the Veterinary and Herpetology team of Bioparc Fuengirola, with which they guaranteed the viability of the eggs. Subsequently, after hatching in the nest and in the controlled incubation points, the new specimens of Caretta caretta They were transferred to the CEGMA in Algeciras, where experts have guaranteed their care during their first year of life.
These months under expert control have allowed them to reach a size that significantly reduces their mortality rate in the natural environment, thus making it easier for them to reach adulthood, and then return to our coasts to spawn.
Satellite locators with which to know the areas visited by these specimens after their release into the sea
As occurred in the release of loggerhead turtles in 2021, Bioparc Fuengirola, through the Bioparc Foundation, has participated in this project that will allow us to know what route each of the turtles carrying the locators take; necessary information to learn more about the species in order to protect it and help in its conservation.
"Conservation, and any study carried out for this necessary purpose, must be based on knowledge, on science. And that is precisely the basis of this project. – comments Fernando González Sitges, executive director of the Bioparc Foundation – These little ambassadors are going to teach us, thanks to satellite markers, what their migratory routes are, their movements in the open sea, their destination coasts and their patterns until they return to lay their eggs on the beach where they were born.".
As part of the actions within the framework of the LIFE INTEMARES project, the entities participating in this action selected the specimens that best met the criteria to be able to put these locators on them.
Bioparc Fuengirola and the Bioparc Foundation, as part of their work in conservation and protection of species, It collaborates with different organizations - such as, for example, Seprona or the Local Police - on a regular basis with the aim of saving and ensuring the survival of threatened species..
