A year after hatching on Los Locos Beach, the young turtles re-enter the sea as part of the Oceanogràfic Foundation’s conservation program.
Sixteen loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) were released this morning on La Mata Beach in Torrevieja, a year after hatching from a nest laid in 2024 by a turtle known as “Pura Vida” on nearby Los Locos Beach. The event drew a large crowd of residents, students, and local officials.
The hatchlings were part of the Oceanogràfic Foundation’s “Head Starting” program, which allows the turtles to grow under controlled conditions for 12 months before returning to the sea, increasing their chances of survival. Six eggs were initially taken to Valencia for care and study, while the rest incubated naturally on La Mata Beach under conservation supervision.
Vice Mayor and Tourism Councillor Rosario Martínez, Environment and Beaches Councillor Antonio Vidal, and municipal biologist Juan Antonio Pujol attended the release, along with representatives of local police, beach maintenance teams, and the volunteers who safeguarded the nests.
The Oceanogràfic Foundation’s conservation and education teams led the release, joined by 45 high school students from IES Mediterráneo. The turtles’ return to the sea highlighted Torrevieja’s growing role in Mediterranean marine conservation.
The loggerhead turtle is listed as “Vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), threatened by habitat loss, pollution, fishing interactions, and climate change. The Oceanogràfic Foundation continues to work with scientists, authorities, and citizens to protect the species and restore nesting activity across the western Mediterranean.
