100 turtle eggs have hatched at Gnejna Bay, Nature Trust said on Wednesday evening.

In a Facebook post this morning, Nature Trust Malta said: "A total of exactly 100 turtles hatched at Gnejna Bay! 98 turtles hatched on 22nd August 2018 at about 21:15 while another 2 emerged from the sand later the same night."

A Loggerhead turtle had laid her eggs in the sand at Gnejna on 25 June.

Despite initial worries that the recent rainstorm could have damaged the nest, Nature Trust said shortly before 10pm that 98 eggs had hatched successfully.

The incubation period for the Loggerhead turtle eggs is around 60 days.

The egg nest was cordoned off to keep people from disturbing the area. Volunteers have watched over the site for the past two months.

In a statement, the Environment and Resources Authority said the eggs had hatched after a successful period of incubation and despite the wet weather which threatened the viability of the eggs in this nest.

Nature Trust – FEE Malta (NTM) and volunteers who were present immediately informed the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) of the event taking place and took action on the ground to see the hatchlings safely to the water’s edge.

Hatchlings are naturally attracted to moonlight shining on the sea surface and their first response, upon emerging from the eggs, is to swim towards light. In view of this, ERA kickstarted its planned response to reduce disturbance from artificial light or any physical barriers at the bay so as to ensure that the hatchlings’ first journey is a successful one.

 

All marine turtles are considered endangered, so they are protected worldwide. The Loggerhead is the most common of marine turtles in the Mediterranean, closely followed by the Leatherback and the Green turtle, the latter being more common in the open sea towards America.

Photos and video: Mark Zammit Cordina/ERA

 

Nature Trust Malta also rehabilitates injured sea turtles.