On Tuesday, the Murcia regional government released thirty loggerhead turtles at Ensenada del Esparto beach in La Manga. This release follows another thirty two turtles that were liberated on the twentieth of June, with thirty one more expected to be released by the end of the summer. Juan María Vázquez, the regional environment minister, highlighted the achievement of having rescued one hundred and ninety one turtles over the past decade, and the total is set to reach two hundred and fifty four by the end of the summer.

The turtles released weigh around one kilogram and originate from a nest laid on the twenty-third of July two thousand twenty four. The nest was located thanks to the efforts of a local individual. Volunteers and environmental agents coordinated to find the nesting site and assist in relocating the hatchlings to the beach for their release. Vázquez also expressed gratitude towards the fifty six environmental volunteers who contributed to the nest’s success, noting that the La Manga nest has achieved a remarkable ninety five percent hatching success rate.

The region has celebrated consistent success in turtle births in recent years, with ninety three hatchlings from last year’s nesting, adding to the fifty one from two thousand twenty three. The programme involves controlled breeding to enhance survival rates against predators, with some turtles transferred to marine facilities across Spain for further study.

These releases are part of a wider initiative supported by the Biodiversity Foundation and financed by European Union recovery funds. Mayor José Miguel Luengo praised the commitment of local authorities and highlighted the importance of the region’s waters, which support turtle populations, thanks to the presence of extensive seagrass meadows, an essential habitat for the species.