6 August 2009 / TODAY'S ZAMAN WITH WIRES, İSTANBUL
Mersin Governor Hüseyin Aksoy has said baby loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) have started to return to the sea after hatching from their eggs.
Aksoy watched the turtles, which are protected by the Directorate for the Protection of Wildlife, as they tried to get to the sea. Nearly 600 babies recently hatched from their eggs at the Davultepe 100 Year Beach in Mezitli and set out for the water. Zübeyir Güvel, the Mersin environment and forestry assistant director, noted that they were pleased the turtles chose the Davultepe beach to lay their eggs.Güvel stated that four reproduction areas for Caretta carettas, out of 21 in Turkey, are located in Mersin. “The reproduction of sea turtles is very important for preserving the richness of the ecosystem,” he said. Mersin Governor Aksoy noted that they are responsible for the control and protection of turtles on the seashore in Mersin and drew attention to the growth of sea turtle reproduction. “In previous years over 2,000 turtles were observed; however, this year there are more than 3,000 Caretta carettas on the four beaches.”
