Dalyan district of the town of Ortaca has become the mating center for the Caretta Caretta species of sea turtles. Thousands of tourists coming to Dalyan from various countries of the world to observe the mating of the turtles have created a new branch of tourism.
As the Caretta Carettas start arriving at the Dalyan coast to mate this year, tour operators will be organizing tours starting from April 15th for tourists wishing to observe them mating.
SPECIAL TOURS WITH A SOLAR ENERGY BOAT
The Caretta Carettas, taken under protection by the Special Environment Protection Institute (ÖÇK) at the İztuzu beach of Dalyan, have started coming to the Dalyan coast and mating in the sea with the warming of the weather. The matings, starting during April and lasting until the end of May, have created a new branch of tourism. Thousands of international tourists are coming to Dalyan from many countries of the world to observe the mating of the Caretta Caretta species of sea turtles. Special tours with solar energy boats, preferred as they are silent and environment-friendly, are organized for the tourists wishing to view the turtles. High interest is expected this year in the tours starting on April 15th.
A NEW BRANCH OF TOURISM
The owner of Kardak Tourism, Özay Akdoğan, well known in the region as an environmentalist, pointed out that the tours he organizes are a new source of income, went on to say, ’Until today, the tourists obtained information about the Caretta Carettas by listening to what we had to tell them, now they can see with their own eyes. Our solar energy boats do not bother the mating Caretta Carettas, and they do not harm the environment. Therefore, both native and foreign tourists show a lot of interest in these tours. However, actually seeing the mating is a matter of luck. We go there with the boat, shut down the motors and wait. Sometimes we wait for two, three hours. And sometimes we can find a pair as soon as we get there. Until now, no tourist came back disappointed from the tour. We think the number of tourists coming to the district to watch the matings will double. The mating season ends around the middle of May.”
WIRE CAGES TO PROTECT NESTS
After the mating, the females leave their eggs in nests on Iztuzu beach. The Caretta Carettas, digging 30-40 cm deep nests about 15-20 meters from the shoreline, can leave 80 – 100 eggs at one time. The incubation period of the eggs is 2 months.
The nests are taken under protection after the Caretta Carettas leave. Dalyan City Council and volunteer students from various universities help with the protection activities carried out by ÖÇK. The Caretta Carettas come to the Iztuzu beach at night to leave their eggs. Attendants are on duty 24 hours a day to identify nests. The nests are then surrounded and covered with wire cages to protect the eggs from harm. Protection continues until the eggs hatch and the baby turtles reach the sea.
INCREASE IN CARETTA CARETTA POPULATION
Dalyan Mayor Suat Tufan, saying that the nests on Iztuzu beach will continue to be protected, went on to point out, ’Our district and our shores have become well-known, thanks to the Caretta Carettas. Now, everybody has an eye on Dalyan and the Iztuzu beach. We are always prepared to do what needs to be done. This year, like in the years before, we will help with the work to protect the nests on İztuzu beach. Thanks to the protection work carried out in the past years, there is an increase in the numbers of Caretta Carettas coming to the region.”
AVERAGE LIFESPAN 70 YEARS!
It is known that the Caretta carettas live for approximately 60 – 70 years. They can weigh up to 80 – 90 kg, and grow up to 70 – 75 cm in length. Their main food is shellfish, fish, mollusks and invertebrates. Two out of the world’s 7 sea turtles are trying to survive in the Mediterranean: the Caretta Carettas and the Chelonia Mydas. There are a total of 20 nesting areas along the Turkish coast; Ekincik, Dalyan, Dalaman, Fethiye, Patara, Kale-Demre, Finike-Kumluca, Çıralı, Tekirova, Belek, Kızılot, Demirtaş, Gazipaşa, Anamur, Göksu Delta, Alata, Kazanlı, Akyatan, Yumurtalık and Samandağı. Dalyan’s İztuzu coast tops the list of best protected reproduction areas.
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