Loggerhead sea turtle lays 101 eggs on Costa Brava beach

A loggerhead sea turtle has laid 101 eggs on the beach of Sant Feliu de Guíxols, on the Costa Brava. 

The turtle was spotted at around 5 am on Wednesday by a municipal cleaning worker, who quickly alerted wildlife protection services after realizing the importance of the sighting. 

When experts arrived, they confirmed the species and monitored the turtle before it returned to the sea.

The nest and its 101 eggs will remain on the beach for the next 50 to 60 days, as specialists believe the conditions are favorable for a successful incubation. 

During this period, the nest will be protected by a fenced enclosure and informative signage.

The Catalan government’s Fauna Service has also activated a volunteer network to monitor the site if needed. 

"In about a month and a half, we'll know if the eggs are fertilized. We have to be cautious, but we’re hopeful that we’ll see lots of baby turtles here,” said Elena Abella, one of the experts who worked on the site.

This is the first sea turtle nest recorded this summer on the Costa Brava, and only the second ever documented on the Girona coast. 

The loggerhead nesting season runs from early June to October. Mothers typically lay their eggs between mid-June and late July, with hatchlings emerging from early August through the end of October. 

The nesting of loggerhead turtles along the Mediterranean coast began only in the past 10 to 15 years, a phenomenon likely linked to climate change.

While younger and near-adult turtles have long been observed in the area feeding, nesting females were not documented until recently. 

Between 1972 and 2023, there have been 57 recorded loggerhead nesting events in Catalonia. About half of them were successful nests, while the rest were failed attempts. 

If someone spots a sea turtle on the beach, they should avoid disturbing it or stepping on its tracks and immediately call emergency services at 112.