Rising global temperatures are changing the nesting patterns of loggerhead sea turtles, with locals on Spain's Mediterranean coast encountering them more frequently.
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00:00A young loggerhead sea turtle is fitted with a tracking device and released into the ocean.
00:07It is one of 49 that was found in an area that is new for these turtles, but where they
00:13are becoming increasingly more common, the shores of Spain.
00:17Many of the individuals that come to the beaches to nest in Spain were not born on these beaches.
00:24Therefore, we can understand that the increase in temperatures is making a transfer of these
00:30turtles to other areas for their nesting.
00:33It is considered rare for loggerheads to nest on the eastern side of the Atlantic, but 2023
00:39was the hottest year on record and the world's temperatures are increasing.
00:44Studies suggest these sea turtles have changed their nesting behaviours to adapt.
00:49Locals of Marbella on the Andalusian coast have noticed more and more nests over the
00:53years and even stumble upon them at random.
00:57A dog went looking for something, we were following a trail and it found the mother.
01:03The turtle was making a hole and we stayed there.
01:06I spoke to some veterinarians from the board who called me and told me to try to retain the turtle.
01:13Without an official system to protect these turtles, a group of volunteers have taken matters into their own hands,
01:20patrolling the beaches and safeguarding the hatchlings of this threatened species.
01:25Between 250 volunteers were able to protect the eggs of the turtles day and night
01:33so that they would hatch the next day.
01:39They are now releasing the group of 49 sea turtles rescued last year and at the same time searching for new nests.
01:46As global temperatures are expected to keep rising, stumbling upon nests in this part of the world will no longer be a surprise
01:54and the beaches of the Mediterranean will be a new permanent home for these turtles.
01:59Joseph Wu and Harrell Hughes for Taiwan Plus.