North Cyprus Turtle Watch

Nature lovers will delight at the opportunity to watch, under strict supervision, the giant sea turtles emerge from the sea to lay eggs in the sand. A little later in the season is an even more dramatic event to witness when the newly hatched babies emerge and struggle to reach the sea.

The sandy beaches of North Cyprus provide nesting sites for two species of turtles, the loggerhead, Caretta caretta, and the green marine turtle, Chelonia mydas. Both species have similar breeding habits and use the soft, sandy beaches for laying their eggs. Once dusk has arrived, the female emerges from the sea to climb up the beach to find a suitable location to deposit her eggs. Laboriously, she excavates with her flippers a cavity in the sand some 40 cm deep and lays up to 100 eggs the size of table tennis balls. After covering the eggs and leaving them to hatch in the warmth of the Mediterranean sun, the female returns to the sea. She may return two or three times at 12 -17 day intervals to lay more eggs.

After incubating for around 50 days, the eggs hatch and the young start their perilous journey to the sea. Sadly, they have so many predators that only a small fraction ever survive to reach adulthood.

Alagadi beach on the eastern side of Kyrenia offers the best location for observing the turtles. From the end of June onwards, it is possible to see the turtles laying eggs and later in the season, end of August onwards, the hatchlings on their journey to the sea. All this is under the control and guidance of the volunteers working for the Society for the Protection of Turtles in North Cyprus.

First, it is essential to visit the Goatshed at Alagadi beach to enquire when the event will take place and add your name to the list. Just turning up on the night may result in disappointment if there are too many people. At first you will be given information on the turtle project while the volunteers locate a nesting female. Only then will you be taken down in silence and allowed to observe.

It is a rare and thrilling experience for all lovers of nature.