Every summer, a real miracle occurs on secluded beaches of Cyprus. Ancient sailors, sea turtles, return here to give the beginning of a new life. Their newborn cubs will have to make the most dangerous race in their lives. How does a small island help these giants survive?
Cyprus is one of the most important places in the Mediterranean for sea turtles. The local sandy beaches are ideal for laying eggs. Two types of these amazing creatures come to the island. Their paths intersect with ours, and our task is to make this neighborhood safe.
Two Cyprus sailors
The first species is a green turtle (Chelonia mydas). This is a rare, disappearing look. Adults are vegetarians, they feed mainly by seaweed. The second species is Loggerhead, or the Golovaky Turtle (Caretta Caretta). It is larger and is a predator. Her powerful jaws easily split the shells of crabs and mollusks. Both types of turtles have been living for decades and overcome thousands of kilometers in their travels.
The season of a big return
Seasonality is the key to understanding their life. From late May to August, under cover of night, females go ashore. They sail exactly to that beach where they once hatched themselves. Moving hard along the sand, they dig a deep hole and lay down to a hundred eggs. This is an exhausting process. After that, the turtle carefully masks the masonry and goes into the sea, no longer caring for offspring.
Run to survival
After about 50-60 days, from July to September, the most interesting begins. A team of tiny turtles suddenly “explodes” from the sand. Their only instinct is as soon as possible to get to the sea. They run to the brightest horizon, which should be the lunar path on the water. This is the most dangerous moment in their life. On land they are waiting for foxes and crabs, and in water - predatory fish.
How in Cyprus they take care of turtles
It is here that a person comes to the rescue. There are several programs for protecting turtles in Cyprus. The main center is located on the Lara beach in the Akamas reserve.
Protection of clutches. Volunteers and scientists patrol beaches. They find fresh masonry and enclose them with special iron cells. These cells do not prevent the turtles from hatching, but protect eggs from the fox.
"Clean Way." On the beaches, where there are many tourists, they follow the purity of sand. Distributions and umbrellas are removed, which can become an obstacle.
The fight against light pollution. Bright hotels and restaurant lights can disorient the turtles. They run to artificial light instead of the sea and die. Therefore, on the beaches of nesting, it is forbidden to use bright lighting.
Seeing the turtle masonry or hatching is a huge luck and great responsibility. The success of this ancient ritual now largely depends on us. Be careful guests on these beaches, turn off the lanterns and do not interfere with nature. And then the turtle that you did not interfere today will return here in 30 years to continue your family.
The material was prepared by Ekaterina Andreevakanal in Telegram
