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Head starting

Sea turtles
Head Starting

The loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) is the most common and abundant of the seven species of sea turtles found in the Mediterranean. However, this has not prevented it from becoming an endangered species and listed as vulnerable by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

Despite being the most abundant marine turtle in Mediterranean waters, traditionally, this species only nests in the eastern Mediterranean basin, mainly along the coasts of Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey. In Spain, nesting was considered occasional until 2014, when the number increased significantly. Scientists believe this is a result of rising temperatures caused by climate change.

The animals that complete the Head Starting programme — those that reach the appropriate size and are in sufficiently good condition to be released — are returned to the sea, their natural habitat. It will take between 15 and 30 years for these animals to reach sexual maturity and in the case of females, to see if they return to our coasts, this time to nest.

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head starting
From their arrival at the centre until their return to the sea, the care of the marine turtle hatchlings requires meticulous attention on a daily basis.
The hatchlings are fed daily on a purée made from sardines, hake, prawns, squid, spinach, and spirulina. As they grow, the amount of purée is adjusted accordingly.
The hatchlings are fed daily on a purée made from sardines, hake, prawns, squid, spinach, and spirulina. As they grow, the amount of purée is adjusted accordingly.
To ensure their proper growth and rule out diseases, all the turtles are weighed and measured each week.
To ensure their proper growth and rule out diseases, all the turtles are weighed and measured each week.
They are kept at a temperature of 24ºC in climate-controlled tanks, which are cleaned each day. As you probably know, temperature is very important for reptiles such as sea turtles!
They are kept at a temperature of 24ºC in climate-controlled tanks, which are cleaned each day. As you probably know, temperature is very important for reptiles such as sea turtles!
Environmental enrichment is provided to give them environmental stimuli that allow them to reproduce their natural behaviours, increase the use of space, and prevent stereotypical behaviours.
Environmental enrichment is provided to give them environmental stimuli that allow them to reproduce their natural behaviours, increase the use of space, and prevent stereotypical behaviours.
Regular veterinary checks are carried out to make sure they are growing healthily.
Regular veterinary checks are carried out to make sure they are growing healthily.
In collaboration with the Oceanogràfic Foundation, laparoscopies are carried out to determine the sex of the hatchlings. This is vital for managing and conserving the species!
In collaboration with the Oceanogràfic Foundation, laparoscopies are carried out to determine the sex of the hatchlings. This is vital for managing and conserving the species!
Some individuals are tagged with microchips, and others are fitted with satellite tags for tracking and research purposes.
Some individuals are tagged with microchips, and others are fitted with satellite tags for tracking and research purposes.
Studies are conducted in collaboration with other institutions such as Caretta a la Vista (Vic University), CRAM (the Foundation for the Conservation and Recovery of Marine Animals), the Oceanogràfic Foundation in Valencia, and LIMIA (Marine Research and Aquaculture Laboratory).
Studies are conducted in collaboration with other institutions such as Caretta a la Vista (Vic University), CRAM (the Foundation for the Conservation and Recovery of Marine Animals), the Oceanogràfic Foundation in Valencia, and LIMIA (Marine Research and Aquaculture Laboratory).
Training, awareness, and outreach activities target both volunteers and the general public and are designed to raise awareness about climate change, its effects on this species, as well as conservation techniques.
Training, awareness, and outreach activities target both volunteers and the general public and are designed to raise awareness about climate change, its effects on this species, as well as conservation techniques.
The hatchlings are fed daily on a purée made from sardines, hake, prawns, squid, spinach, and spirulina. As they grow, the amount of purée is adjusted accordingly.
The hatchlings are fed daily on a purée made from sardines, hake, prawns, squid, spinach, and spirulina. As they grow, the amount of purée is adjusted accordingly.
To ensure their proper growth and rule out diseases, all the turtles are weighed and measured each week.
To ensure their proper growth and rule out diseases, all the turtles are weighed and measured each week.
They are kept at a temperature of 24ºC in climate-controlled tanks, which are cleaned each day. As you probably know, temperature is very important for reptiles such as sea turtles!
They are kept at a temperature of 24ºC in climate-controlled tanks, which are cleaned each day. As you probably know, temperature is very important for reptiles such as sea turtles!
Environmental enrichment is provided to give them environmental stimuli that allow them to reproduce their natural behaviours, increase the use of space, and prevent stereotypical behaviours.
Environmental enrichment is provided to give them environmental stimuli that allow them to reproduce their natural behaviours, increase the use of space, and prevent stereotypical behaviours.
Regular veterinary checks are carried out to make sure they are growing healthily.
Regular veterinary checks are carried out to make sure they are growing healthily.
In collaboration with the Oceanogràfic Foundation, laparoscopies are carried out to determine the sex of the hatchlings. This is vital for managing and conserving the species!
In collaboration with the Oceanogràfic Foundation, laparoscopies are carried out to determine the sex of the hatchlings. This is vital for managing and conserving the species!
Some individuals are tagged with microchips, and others are fitted with satellite tags for tracking and research purposes.
Some individuals are tagged with microchips, and others are fitted with satellite tags for tracking and research purposes.
Studies are conducted in collaboration with other institutions such as Caretta a la Vista (Vic University), CRAM (the Foundation for the Conservation and Recovery of Marine Animals), the Oceanogràfic Foundation in Valencia, and LIMIA (Marine Research and Aquaculture Laboratory).
Studies are conducted in collaboration with other institutions such as Caretta a la Vista (Vic University), CRAM (the Foundation for the Conservation and Recovery of Marine Animals), the Oceanogràfic Foundation in Valencia, and LIMIA (Marine Research and Aquaculture Laboratory).
Training, awareness, and outreach activities target both volunteers and the general public and are designed to raise awareness about climate change, its effects on this species, as well as conservation techniques.
Training, awareness, and outreach activities target both volunteers and the general public and are designed to raise awareness about climate change, its effects on this species, as well as conservation techniques.
Head Starting is an ex situ conservation strategy.
Strategy

Head Starting is an ex situ conservation strategy.

Temperature is a critical environmental factor for the loggerhead turtle. It affects not only the distribution of adults but is also a key factor in determining the sex of the hatchlings: at temperatures below 29ºC, most of the hatchlings are male, while above this temperature, most are female. As a result, in traditional nesting colonies, more females are born than males. Colonising higher latitudes, such as those along our coasts, allows for a more balanced sex ratio, which is crucial for maintaining the species.

Head Starting is an ex situ conservation strategy, involving the controlled breeding of hatchlings over a period of several months. Mortality in the sea during the first year is extremely high, with estimates suggesting that only 1 out of every 1,000 turtles survive. This project aims to reduce the high mortality rates of sea turtle hatchlings during their first year of life. In the Balearic Islands, the project is managed by the Consortium for the Recovery of Wildlife in the Balearic Islands (COFIB by its Spanish initials), an organisation under the Species Protection Service of the Balearic Islands' Regional Ministry of the Environment and Territory. Since 2019, when the first nest was recorded in the Balearic Islands, the Palma Aquarium Foundation has been collaborating actively with these organisations to assist with sea turtle nesting events and Head Starting projects in the Balearic Islands.

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Head Starting is an ex situ conservation strategy.
From 2019 to 2024
From the beginning of the project
6
Project years
Project years
55
Turtles cared for and released
Turtles cared for and released
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