The drones of the Forestry Corps to monitor the presence of caretta caretta turtles in Sardinia.
The staff of the Arbatax naval base, in collaboration with the regional network for the conservation of marine fauna, is carrying out a control program on the Ogliastra beaches to identify the nesting sites of marine turtle specimens of the protected species.
Caretta carettas are monitored from nest selection to egg laying and hatching.
Starting this summer, drones have made it possible to observe tens of kilometers of beach in the early hours of the morning. In early July a turtle was reported laying its eggs on Cea beach, at the end of the month two more chicks were found on the coast of Lotzorai, in Tancau and Pollu.
Shots from above make it possible to identify the traces of the turtles that come out of the sea in search of the right point in which to dig their nest in the sand. Then we proceed to verify the presence of the eggs in collaboration with researchers from the Cnr and the Sinis recovery center for sea turtles and cetaceans (Cres) in Cabras.
When the eggs are found, the regional protocol starts which provides for the safety of the nest by creating a metal fence and a system to avoid disturbing elements that can be caused by wildlife or swimmers.
In the nest, the researchers place a thermometer that can be connected to a bluetooth device to control the temperature variation. At the time of hatching, which lasts a few days, continuous monitoring is carried out to allow the baby turtles to naturally reach the sea without obstacles.
(Unioneonline/L)