Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nesting – St Lucia Guide The Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta
caretta) is one of the most important nesting
turtles on the Maputaland coastline and a key species for
anyone researching turtle nesting South Africa.
Loggerheads are named for their large head and powerful
jaws, which allow them to feed on hard-shelled prey such
as crabs, whelks and other marine life. In northern
KwaZulu-Natal, protected beaches inside iSimangaliso
Wetland Park support nesting activity that is
monitored and protected through long-running conservation
work. Species Facts Scientific Name: Caretta caretta (genus
Caretta). High-Authority OpeningThe protected beaches of iSimangaliso Wetland Park on the Maputaland coastline are the centre of turtle nesting South Africa, and St Lucia is the main access point for guided night turtle tours into this remote coastal wilderness. Loggerhead turtles are one of the key nesting species of this region, and visitors joining St Lucia turtle tours may encounter tracks, nesting activity or hatchlings depending on timing and conditions. Information About the Loggerhead turtleThe only living member of the genus Caretta, the Loggerhead sea turtle can grow up to an intimidating 364 kg and 1.1 meters long. The species is so named for the turtle's over-large head punctuated by a set of strong jaws suitable for feeding on a wide range of sea life from mollusks (whelks and conch) to crustaceans (crabs and shrimp) to fish and jellyfish. They have also been known to consume small or immature marine animals such as sea birds and mammals. Loggerhead turtles have a large habitat ranging from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to the Indian Ocean. Atlantic migratory routes span from Newfoundland to Argentina with breeding and reproduction taking place in the warm waters of the southern hemisphere. Some Loggerhead turtles are known to hibernate rather than pursue the challenging migratory patterns. For females this is most likely in the 2-3 year period between egg cycles. The mating season spans several months - from March to June - and female egg laying continues into September. The nesting female will lay up to 150 eggs in deep nests which she digs in the soft sand of the same beach where she hatched 35 or more years earlier. She uses her flippers to cover the eggs, forming a protective mound that keeps the eggs safe from beach-going predators much, but not all, of the time. The tiny Loggerhead turtle hatchings, which weigh about 20 grams and measure a scant 45 mm in length, emerge after a two-month incubation period. Those that make it from nest to sea and through the surf line to open water will swim for several days to find areas of deep water upwelling, that offer moderate protection from tossing seas in rich debris fields of seaweed and other floating materials. As with all eco-sensitive species, the Loggerhead turtle populations have been in decline for decades. Annual nesting estimates worldwide reveal fewer than 150,000 nests per year in all traditional Loggerhead nesting areas. Adults easily become ensnared in gill nets, long-lines, traps and pots. Dredging also claims a number of turtles each year. The large migratory territories of the Loggerhead require global cooperation to ensure that protective efforts will be successful. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna makes trade of any part of this species unlawful, affording it some protection from human predation. Several countries share agreements that expand protection for the feeding and nesting areas and many have imposed bans on shrimp to force changes in the trawling gear to make it less hazardous to Loggerheads and other routinely ensnared deep sea turtle species. Conservation efforts include the hatch and release of nests that are discovered in threatened or unsuitable areas. The eggs are carefully counted and transported to an incubation facility. The young are raised until they are strong enough to survive on their own and released into the ocean from the same beach that housed their nest. This imprints the hatchling on the spot and increases the likelihood that it will return to continue the cycle when it reaches sexual maturity three and a half decades laterTurtle Nesting in iSimangaliso Wetland ParkThe Maputaland coastline inside iSimangaliso Wetland Park is where turtle nesting South Africa is concentrated. Loggerhead turtles are among the main nesting species monitored on these beaches. Conservation teams track nesting activity, protect nests where needed, and help reduce disturbance while maintaining controlled access to sensitive nesting areas. Turtle Tours from St LuciaSt Lucia turtle tours operate as guided night turtle tours during the summer nesting season. The experience typically includes travelling north into protected coastal wilderness, looking for fresh tracks in the sand and, when conditions allow, observing nesting loggerheads while following strict conservation rules for lights, distance and behaviour. Tour Experience (What It Feels Like)A night turtle experience on the iSimangaliso coastline is quiet and intense: headlights off where required, eyes scanning for tracks, the smell of salt air and the sound of the surf in the dark. When turtle activity is found, guides follow strict protocols to minimise disturbance and protect nesting turtles, allowing visitors to witness a rare natural event in a responsible way. Best Time to See This Turtle October – December Where These Turtles Nest (South Africa Region) Maputaland Coast Frequently Asked Questions Where can you see Loggerhead turtles in South
Africa? Planning a Turtle Tour in St Lucia? Send your dates for availability confirmation. |