The sea turtle known as Mona has struck again on the Dénia coastline. Just days after laying her first clutch of eggs this season, the animal has chosen Les Bovetes beach to deposit another batch, bringing the number of protected nests in the municipality this summer to four.
The specimen, which is equipped with a satellite tracking device, was located thanks to an alert from the Polytechnic University of Valencia. The approximately 90 eggs have been transferred to Les Albaranes beach, where they will remain under observation to ensure their proper incubation, following the standard protocol of the Stranding Network.
Second performance of the season
This new nesting marks Mona's second this year. The first occurred on July 12th near the Hotel Los Ángeles, where she laid 96 eggs after a citizen reported the incident to emergency services (112). On that occasion, the location was made possible thanks to the satellite tag attached to the turtle , detected and reported by the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV). The Stranding Network team, comprised of university staff and personnel from the Oceanogràfic Foundation, was responsible for relocating the eggs to a safer location.
A name with history
The turtle was named Mona in honor of Mona Khalil, a renowned sea turtle conservationist in Lebanon who recently died from a missile strike during the conflict in the region. Her name commemorates her work protecting these species and the connection between different parts of the Mediterranean.
Dénia, epicenter of nesting in the Valencian Community
With this latest nesting, the municipality of Dénia now has four protected nests this season: two belonging to the Mona turtle and two to the one named Diana. These are, for the moment, the only four nests recorded this summer along the entire Valencian Community coastline , further establishing the capital of the Marina Alta region as the area with the highest reproductive activity for this species in the autonomous community.
Furthermore, since 2023, Dénia has recorded a total of 14 nests, a figure that reflects the importance of its beaches for sea turtle nesting. The Dénia coastline has become a key refuge for the species in the western Mediterranean.
Mona's second nesting in Dénia not only reinforces the positive trend of nesting in the area, but also highlights the monitoring and protection work carried out by institutions and rescue teams. With four nests this summer and 14 since 2023, the Dénia coast is establishing itself as a sanctuary for sea turtles in the Valencian Community.
