Another Caretta caretta nest has hatched, this time on the beach of Is Traias, in Villasimius. Staff at the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area responded to a citizen's report just as the hatching was underway: "The nest," the Marine Protected Area emphasizes, "had not been identified at the time of deposition and therefore followed its natural course, without being subjected to protective measures. Checks conducted revealed that incubation had proceeded normally and that the chicks had reached the hatching and emergence stage."
But not everything went smoothly. "Unfortunately," the MPA continues, "precisely during this delicate phase, the nest chamber was likely reached and partially dug by an animal, which brought some of the chicks and their shells to the surface. It's possible that some specimens were intercepted during the hatching phase or while attempting to emerge from the nest chamber, with unfortunately fatal consequences for some of them."
During the inspection, 77 hatched eggshells, one broken egg, 16 dead chicks, and five still alive were found. The five still-living chicks were immediately rescued and transferred to the MPA First Aid Center, where they were constantly monitored. That evening, they were released back onto the same beach, allowing them to make their journey to the sea in the most natural conditions possible.