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Is the 2018 loggerhead nest really another exceptional sea turtle nesting record following the 2012 and 2016 previous nesting cases in Malta?

Carmen Mifsud ; Environment Resource Authority, Hexagon House, Spencer Hill, Marsa, MRS 1441, Malta
Vincent Attard ; Nature Trust (Malta), Wied Ghollieqa Environment Centre, Lower Level, Car Park 1, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
Andreas Demetropoulos ; Cyprus Wildlife Society, P.O. Box 24281. Nicosia 1703, Cyprus

Sažetak

We report another nesting event by a loggerhead turtle in Ġnejna (Malta), in June 2018, with an extraordinary hatching rate of 99.1%. This follows the previously reported nesting in 2012 in the same bay, and the 2016 event in a nearby beach at Golden Bay, both beaches located in the NW of Malta. Before the 2012 record, scientifically recorded turtle nesting in Malta had only been reported dating back some 100 years, although in one paper it is alleged that turtles may have been nesting in Malta up until some 50-60 years ago. Noting that loggerheads have an average remigration interval of 2 years, it is possible that the same turtle that nested in 2012 came back to Ġnejna to nest again in 2018. It is hoped that DNA analysis, which ideally follows at a later stage, will determine whether it was the same turtle.
Campaigns are currently ongoing to solicit greater reporting of nesting. Relocation of eggs is discussed. In this paper we also describe conservation measures that were set-up in this bay and in Golden Bay, including measures during hatching. Emergency conservation orders were issued in all the three nesting events, to protect the beaches in question from any major and potentially harmful activities. The sites were also surrounded and physically protected with a 24 hour monitoring scheme being set-up with the help of volunteers from Nature Trust Malta and government officials.

Ključne riječi

Caretta caretta; sea turtle; nesting; Mediterranean; Malta; exceptional and sporadic nesting

Hrčak ID:

249248

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/249248

Datum izdavanja:

31.12.2020.

Posjeta: 581 *