The moments when the young of the green sea turtles known as ‘carretta caretta’ and ‘chelonia mydas’ hatch from their eggs were captured on the Samandağ beach in Türkiye’s Hatay province. Leaving their nests, which were opened by experts and volunteer students in the early hours of the morning, the younglings ran towards the blue waters of the Mediterranean.
Faculty member Bektaş Sönmez, who is also working on the conservation of the nests, said the biggest danger to them was coastal erosion, flooding, being damaged by predators, and lights coming from opposite directions, which draw the babies away from the waters.