The Home of Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta Caretta)
İztuzu Beach (İztuzu Plajı) in Mugla is one of the last beaches to harbor loggerhead sea turtles. It is the second beach in the world to preserve its natural state. Known as caretta carettas, The adorable inhabitants of İztuzu Beach are 1-1.5 meters tall and 150 kilos. These cute animals go to the beach by using their hind legs. They then dig various holes and lay their eggs in the most appropriate way and return to the sea.
When their time comes, the hatchlings instinctively take the moonlight compass and head towards the sea. This job is not that easy. It takes a long time to reach the sea with the tiny steps of the baby carettas. They must go all the way until the sun rises and it starts to get warmer. Those who fail to do so will be prey to the heat or birds. Of course, when they reach the sea, the danger does not end. Till they reach a certain size, they can not avoid becoming fish food. The few carettas that are able to grow and reach a giant size return to this beach they were born on. When they follow their instincts and lay their eggs, the loop will start once again.
When the hatching time comes, it is banned to use a light source or make fire on this beach. They deceive the young and hinder them from finding the sea. This is because the little ones mistake the light source for the moonlight. Eggs are taken under protection and no permanent facility is allowed on the beach. During hatching, environmentalists from all over the world camp on the beach. They sometimes support the march of the turtles.
Iztuzu Beach Turtle Hatching Season
Turtles generally hatch from their eggs during the warmer months of the year, as the heat helps to incubate the eggs. In Iztuzu, Turkey, the turtle hatching season typically occurs during the summer months, with hatching occurring from June to August.
The exact timing of the turtle hatching season in Iztuzu may vary slightly from year to year, depending on weather conditions and other factors. It is important to note that sea turtles are endangered species, and it is important to respect their habitat and nesting sites. If you are planning to visit Iztuzu during turtle hatching season, be sure to follow any guidelines or regulations in place to protect the turtles and their habitat.
