The night in Benidorm left an unforgettable image: right on Levante Beach, near the Paseo and facing Avenida de Madrid, several dozen loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings began emerging from the sand. Passersby couldn't believe it and called emergency services, triggering an operation that culminated in the protection of the hatchlings, their controlled release, and the activation of scientific and conservation protocols. A massive birth in the urban heart of the bay confirms the good condition of the coastline..
This episode is not an isolated one: it adds to other recent milestones in the city and throughout the Valencian Community, such as the release in Poniente of nine turtles born the previous year and the intense nesting season currently underway in the western Mediterranean. Coordination between the Local Police, the University of Valencia, the Oceanogrà fic Foundation and specialized NGOs has been key. so that everything went well from the first minute.
A birth in the middle of Levante: how it happened and where
Around midnight, calls to 112 and the Local Police multiplied: several witnesses walking along Paseo de Levante reported small turtles moving across the sand towards the sea, near number 26 Avenida de Madrid. The exact point of the sighting allowed the device to be quickly activated and the area to be limited. to prevent discomfort and accidental steps.
The first steps, already on the sand, included demarcating the area and keeping the pups safe while they awaited the arrival of the technical teams. In total, 39 specimens were located, of which 37 were alive and two were found dead. The figure, high for such an urbanized environment, underlines the species' ability to adapt when it finds safe beaches..
Several police units, the Councilor for Beaches and the Environment, Mónica Gómez, and the City Council's rural guard arrived at the scene and immediately assisted the scientists and volunteers. The institutional presence facilitated the deployment of a protocol that the city already knows from recent experiences..
During the night, teams from the University of Valencia, the Oceanogrà fic Foundation, and the NGO Xaloc scoured the sand to locate the nest. They followed footprints around a wide area, but didn't find any denser areas that would reveal its exact location. The search was meticulous, although the nest remained elusive despite visible traces..
Authorities and technicians warned that more hatchlings could be seen hours later, as hatchings in a single nest are staggered. Therefore, residents and visitors were asked not to handle the chicks; only, if necessary, to prevent them from entering the water immediately and to urgently call 112. The main recommendation was clear: do not touch and notify immediately..
A coordinated device to protect and study the young
The activated protocol integrates several actors with complementary functions: Local Police to cordon off and secure the area, the University of Valencia for scientific monitoring, the Oceanogrà fic Foundation for veterinary assessment and handling of the hatchlings, and the NGO Xaloc to reinforce the project with volunteers and field experience. This sum of capabilities speeds up decisions and reduces risks for animals..
While waiting for the arrival of biologists and veterinarians, the officers kept the newborns safe, avoiding glare, footsteps, and disorientation from light sources. Upon their arrival, specialist teams took over and continued the individual assessment. The joint work made it possible to take care of all the located pups without incident..
The physical safety of each animal and environmental control were prioritized. Once this was guaranteed, technicians applied standard procedures: basic measurements, observation of mobility, and verification of general condition before making decisions about release or admission to specialized care. The goal was to balance science and conservation with maximum speed..
To minimize stress, the use of intense white light was avoided and red light was used instead, a common practice in these nighttime interventions. This approach, also seen on other Valencian beaches, reduces disorientation in newborns who are guided by light signals. Adequate lighting is a critical factor for the success of the operation.
Recording biometric and behavioral data provides valuable information to researchers. Shell dimensions, motor response, and weight help assess the condition of the cohorts and improve future protocols. Measuring, documenting, and learning from each hatch optimizes medium-term conservation..
From Levante to Ti or TÃo Ximo cove: controlled release and breeding
Of the pups found alive, 30 were returned to the sea before dawn in Ti Ximo Cove (also known as TÃo Ximo), selected for its sheltered conditions and lower light pressure. The health and safety assessment conducted by specialists was instrumental in authorizing this early return. Choosing a protected release point increases the probability of neonate survival..
The remaining seven hatchlings were admitted to the Oceanogrà fic Foundation facilities to participate in the head-starting program for a year. This approach, widespread in the western Mediterranean, involves temporarily raising hatchlings under veterinary care until they reach a size and physical condition that reduces their vulnerability. It's about gaining time in the most critical stage of your life..
During this rearing period, the turtles receive controlled feeding, regular checkups, and technical monitoring. Once they've passed this first delicate stage, they return to the sea with a better chance of thriving in a natural environment where hatchling mortality is often very high. Head-starting does not replace habitat protection, but complements it with tangible results..
Benidorm's recent experience supports this method: nine juveniles born the previous year in the city have been returned to the sea after completing their rearing at the Oceanogrà fic Foundation. The public release also strengthens environmental education and the public's connection to conservation. When science opens up to the community, awareness and social support grow.
Although the impulse to see a calf makes you think of helping it with your hands, handling it should be left to expert hands. Only in specific situations, and to avoid immediate risks, it is recommended to keep it safe without putting it in the water and call 112. Minimal intervention and early warning make the difference.
The precedent in the West: emotion, science and a lot of pedagogy
Poniente Beach hosted a large and emotional event, releasing nine loggerhead turtles born the previous summer on the same beach. The event was attended by schoolchildren from La Cala, El Murtal, and Bautista Lledó schools, as well as residents, tourists, municipal representatives, Oceanogrà fic Foundation staff, and professionals from companies and concessionaires involved in beach and environmental management. Social participation turned conservation into a shared experience.
Mayor Toni Pérez participated alongside Councilor for Beaches and the Environment Mónica Gómez and other members of the council. Representatives from the Oceanogrà fic Foundation also attended, representing the scientific organization; nine schoolchildren were able to participate directly in the release. Involving the educational community sows knowledge and commitment for the future..
At that nesting site in Poniente, the mother lays 27 eggs and, after completing the spawning in the early morning, returns to the sea. The public alert allowed the nest to be marked immediately and the protocol activated. Teams from the Cavanilles Institute of the University of Valencia and the Oceanogrà fic subsequently retrieved the eggs to incubate them under controlled conditions. From that clutch were born the nine specimens released a year later..
Releasing them on the same stretch of coast where they were born responds to the principle of philopatry: decades later, adult females return to their natal area to nest. Maintaining this geographic reference favors the species' persistence on suitable beaches. Philopatry explains why it is so important to release them on the beach of origin..
A busy nesting season in the Valencian Community and how to react
The Valencian coast is experiencing a particularly active year, with 12 loggerhead turtle nests recorded to date. In the province of Castellón, nesting has been confirmed in Almassora, Nules, Alcossebre, and PeñÃscola; in Valencia, nesting debuts were made in El Puig and Piles; and Alicante is home to the largest number, with nests in Dénia, Elche, Benidorm, and El Campello. This nesting map places the Community as a key enclave in the western Mediterranean..
This figure makes this year one of the periods with the highest number of nestings known in the region, consolidating the species' expansion toward our coasts. This increase coexists with growing threats, making surveillance, science, and citizen involvement crucial. More nests does not mean lowering our guard, but rather doubling our protection..
The loggerhead sea turtle is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to multiple pressures: loss of suitable nesting beaches, pollution, accidental captures, and the effects of climate change, among others. A single successful hatching alone does not offset these threats. Effective conservation combines habitat protection, research and education.
The Oceanogrà fic Foundation, in coordination with public administrations, fishermen, environmental technicians and citizens, develops lines of research, rescue and recovery and education that strengthen the protection of this emblematic species. Their coordinating role, alongside universities and NGOs, is behind many of the recent successes. Weaving alliances multiplies the reach of each effort.
Examples like the one in Dénia illustrate the dynamics of a controlled hatching: at around 10:30 p.m., the first hatchling appeared on Les Albaranes beach; dozens emerged within half an hour, and it was estimated that around 70 hatched that night, with around 30 more expected to emerge in the following hours. Guard shifts and red lighting allowed for safe handling.
Volunteers and technicians carefully collected the hatchlings for examination; later, researchers from the University of Valencia took measurements such as shell size, and veterinarians from Oceanogrà fic assessed their mobility and general condition, even highlighting their positive genetic heritage. Pre-release health assessment is as essential as it is discreet..
If you you find a baby In the arena, these guidelines make the difference:
- Keep your distance, avoid touching it, and don't use flash or bright white lights; if you have a red light, even better. Inadequate light disorients newborns.
- If it is in immediate danger, temporarily place it away from footsteps or predators, without putting it in the water. Minimal and calm handling.
- Call 112 and describe the exact location (references such as the gateway or portal number help). A clear notice accelerates the protocol.
- Don't try to find the nest or follow tracks on your own; leave that task to specialized teams. Avoiding substrate disturbances is crucial.
In the words of the mayor, nature has once again surprised the city center, and for the second consecutive summer, turtles have chosen Benidorm to lay their eggs: last year in Poniente and now in Levante. The council's message is optimistic: well-maintained beaches, clean seas, and an engaged community. A healthy coastline is the best calling card for marine life to thrive..
The experiences in Levante, the release in Poniente, and the cascade of nests in the Valencian Community paint a hopeful but demanding picture: it requires agile protocols, applied science, and vigilant citizens who know how to act. Protecting each hatchling and each nest today is an investment in future females who, decades from now, will return to these beaches to nest..
