4 Jul, 2024 @ 08:00
1 min read

Five loggerhead turtles born on a Marbella beach prepare to start life in the sea after a year’s training at marine zoo

FIVE loggerhead turtles born on a Marbella beach last year are set to be released into the sea after being nurtured in a marine zoo.

The hatchlings found a temporary home at Selwo Marina zoo in Benalmadena after their births in August last year.

Loggerheads, currently on Andalucia’s endangered list, face a harrowing survival rate of just one in a thousand in the wild.

Hence they are receiving specialised care and nourishment in order to increase their chances of thriving in their natural marine environment.

READ MORE: Hermes the Galapagos turtle arrives to Spain’s Costa del Sol: 20-year-old specimen finds new home at Fuengirola Bioparc

Loggerheads play a vital role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems, including by munching on jellyfish and keeping their numbers down. 

Upon their arrival at Selwo Marina, the hatchlings were transferred from the Center for Management of the Strait Marine Environment (CEGMA), a renowned institution dedicated to loggerhead sea turtle recovery.

The zoo meticulously prepared special facilities for its new arrivals, equipped with an advanced filtration system to ensure the turtles’ well-being.

Under the watchful eye of dedicated caregivers, the hatchlings undergo regular weighings, measurements, and daily feedings, consisting of a carefully crafted diet of blue and white fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and supplements that mimic the nutritional profile of their natural marine habitat.

This critical period of care aims to strengthen the turtles and prepare them for their eventual release back into the sea once the water temperatures become warm enough. 

READ MORE: Farmer is arrested after police unearth 229 protected turtles on his land in Spain’s Valencia

Known as a ‘Headstarting’ program, zoos, aquariums, and research institutions all work alongside volunteers and concerned citizens to provide these vulnerable hatchlings with a fighting chance. 

Beyond strengthening these individual turtles, the project plays a crucial role in scientific research. 

The data collected throughout their stay at Selwo Marina offers valuable insights into the health of the marine environment. 

Additionally, these hatchlings, once released, can be tracked with satellite tags, providing further information about their migratory patterns and overall well-being.

Walter Finch

Walter Finch, who comes from a background in video and photography, is keen on reporting on and investigating organised crime, corruption and abuse of power. He is fascinated by the nexus between politics, business and law-breaking, as well as other wider trends that affect society.
Born in London but having lived in six countries, he is well-travelled and worldly. He studied Philosophy at the University of Birmingham and earned his diploma in journalism from London's renowned News Associates during the Covid era.
He got his first break in the business working on the Foreign News desk of the Daily Mail's online arm, where he also helped out on the video desk.
He then decided to escape the confines of London and returned to Spain in 2022, having previously lived in Barcelona for many years.
He took up up a reporter role with the Olive Press Newspaper and today he is based in La Linea de la Concepcion at the heart of a global chokepoint and crucial maritime hub, where he edits the Olive Press Gibraltar edition.
He is also the deputy news editor across all editions of the newspaper.

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