In the middle of October, the Mediterranean sand revealed an unexpected treasure. As soon as the first reports came in, a magnificent chain of solidarity was activated to protect these precious and protected loggerhead turtles. The association Émergence, the French Mediterranean Marine Turtle Network (RTMMF), the Port-Cros National Park, and the commune's environmental agents joined forces.
An action plan was immediately implemented to mitigate dangers. The commune promptly built and installed a custom-made protective cage to shield the hatchlings from dogs and predators. A surveillance protocol allowed for the monitoring of every trace left in the sand.
During the final excavation of the nest, which contained a total of 51 eggs, more than a dozen hatchlings trapped at the bottom of a 50 cm layer of overly compact sand were rescued in time and guided to the first waves. This magnificent rescue was achieved thanks to the vigilance of beachgoers and the swift reaction of local stakeholders.
