This year on the beaches of Alanya discovered a record number of masonry of sea turtles

Guldane Shahin, who has been observing for 18 years in Alanya as a volunteer for the protection of sea turtles of the species Caretta carettas, said that they have already found twice as many nests as last year: "We can safely say that this is the highest record in recent years". In addition, for the first time in 18 years, Guldane saw the footprints of a giant turtle on a beach: "I’ve never seen a footprint this size. It must be a giant carriage aged at least 70-80 years. It’s an amazing event!"

Caretta Caretta is a endangered species of sea turtles. Turkey has concluded many international agreements to protect them. In 2009, the Directorate General of Nature Conservation and National Parks of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry issued a circular on turtle protection. . Turtles arrive on the beaches of Alanya between April 1 and October 1. In July, August and September, turtle hatches and heads for the sea.

According to Gyuldane, she has already found 287 nests in the 3-kilometer beach area: "I guess that this year we will find more than 600 nests in this zone before the end of the spawning. Every day at 5:00 a.m., I go down to the beach. I check the area with a control stick. When we find that there are eggs here, we enclose the clutch and attach the information paper. Despite this, people still come here and put on the sand sea umbrellas and sun loungers. Moreover, they arrange a barbecue on the sand! Last year, there was even a case where someone used protective cells as a barbecue and lit a fire on the nest. The biggest enemy of the carriage is people. Also, stray dogs come here and dig nests. Foxes, martens, eagles, crows and even crabs are very harmful. When chicks hatch, a specific odor is released that attracts dogs, foxes, ravens and other animals. Unfortunately, many baby turtles become victims of these animals".

The city authorities and volunteers call on residents and guests of Alanya vacationing on the beaches to be more careful, especially when installing beach umbrellas.