Don’t disturb!Turtles are mating
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Doğan News Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 30, 2009 00:00
ANTALYA - The mating season of the caretta carettas, an endangered species of sea turtle, came early this year. Köyceğiz County’s Çandır Village is near Lake Alagöl, one of the caretta caretta mating grounds, just at the opposite shore of Dalyan Canal. It was reported that the caretta carettas will lay eggs 15 days earlier this year.
Associate Professor Yakup Kaska from Pamukkale University has been studying the area for some time. "The sea turtles prefer bays and still lakes for mating. We ask of people to not to disturb them at this time of the year so they can mate in peace at Alagöl and inland waters," said Kaska.
A well-fed female caretta caretta may lay 300 to 500 eggs, according to Kaska who added that those are divided among nests of 100 and the size of the turtle may be a factor in the number of eggs to be laid. "After mating, it takes two weeks for the eggs to form shells, so the laying may begin in the middle of May.
Kaska said only 70 percent of the baby turtles from the eggs survive to the sea due to environmental factors, foxes and other wild animals and only 2 to 3 percent of them make it to puberty.
A well-fed female caretta caretta may lay 300 to 500 eggs, according to Kaska who added that those are divided among nests of 100 and the size of the turtle may be a factor in the number of eggs to be laid. "After mating, it takes two weeks for the eggs to form shells, so the laying may begin in the middle of May.
Kaska said only 70 percent of the baby turtles from the eggs survive to the sea due to environmental factors, foxes and other wild animals and only 2 to 3 percent of them make it to puberty.