Loggerhead Turtle Eggs Hatch On Beach Near Venice - Northernmost Hatching On Record For Species

[hatrack]

Eggs that were laid on a sandy beach in northern Italy by a loggerhead sea turtle, or Caretta Caretta, have hatched in what scientists describe as an “exceptional” event possibly brought on by global heating. It was the first time that the hatching of Caretta Caretta sea turtle eggs had been recorded along the northern Adriatic coast.

Nine sea turtles were born on Wednesday night on the beach in Jesolo, a popular seaside resort close to Venice where their mother had deposited 82 eggs, about 25 metres from the sea, overnight on 9 July. “This is the most northern nesting spot in the world, a truly peculiar geographical location,” Sandro Mazzariol, a professor of veterinary pathology at the University of Padua and coordinator for Cert, an emergency response team for marine animals, told La Repubblica.

A protective barrier had been put up around the nest in order to protect it from beachgoers, while volunteers from animal rights groups kept vigil day and night.

The newborn turtles emerged from their eggs within 10 to 15 minutes, a few days after the expected 60 days of incubation had ended. The turtles weighed between 12 and 14 grams, while their upper shells were about 5cm long.

EDIT

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/17/truly-peculiar-loggerhead-turtles-born-in-most-northern-spot-ever-recorded

[SheltieLover]

1. Many thanks to those who set up fencing & watched over these precious creatures!

Ty for sharing!