Two men were arrested on Tuesday after they ran into the enclosure protecting a loggerhead turtle’s nest at Ghadira Bay.

The two men ran into the enclosure while drunk, breaching an outer enclosure made of netting but not an inner one which is protecting the turtle eggs, a Nature Trust spokesperson said.

The men were arrested after officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit (RIU) were called to the site by volunteers and Malta Tourism Authority officials.

This year, four loggerhead turtles have laid eggs in Malta, two at Ghadira Bay, another at Golden Bay and a fourth at Ramla Bay in Gozo. Eighty-five eggs hatched between 2-4 August from the Gozo nest.

All nesting sites are subject to emergency conservation orders issued by the environmental regulator, ERA. Nature Trust volunteers have been keeping watch of the turtle nests constantly.

The loggerhead turtle is classified as a globally endangered by the World Conservation Area and is protected by various national and international legislation.