Libya: Moving Sea Turtle Nests to Protect Them from Extinction

The nesting season for endangered sea turtles in Libya runs from May to August. During these months, environmentalists play a crucial role in protecting these marine creatures from the threats that jeopardize their survival.

The “Idama” organization for nature conservation deploys specially trained teams to carry out this task. Experts head to the beaches in search of the endangered turtle eggs, which they carefully extract to avoid any harm.

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Once extracted, the eggs are transported to “Farwa” Island, known for being far from residential areas and vehicle traffic, both of which pose a danger to the eggs. The island was chosen due to its biodiversity and lack of residents, making it a safe haven for the turtle eggs until they hatch.

In this context, Abou Bakr Mansouri, co-founder of the “Idama” nature conservation organization, explained that sea turtles are vulnerable creatures at risk of extinction due to several factors, including marine pollution, plastic waste, and environmental and climate changes.

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He also emphasized that the lack of nest protection is a significant threat to these creatures, as turtles may lay their eggs on crowded beaches, putting their safety at risk.

It is noted that sea turtles lay between 70 and 130 eggs during this period, with a high hatching rate unless the eggs face natural threats like crabs, birds, foxes, and fish.

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The greatest human threat to the turtles is illegal fishing and leaving eggs unprotected in their sandy nests.

Turtles lay their eggs during full moon nights, digging a hole up to 50 cm deep on the beach, then burying the eggs in the sand based on their size and age. After about 55 days, the eggs hatch thanks to the heat of the sun warming the sand, and the baby turtles embark on their journey toward the sea.

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