VALLETTA, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Malta's environment authorities on Monday announced the hatching of the fifth loggerhead turtle nest on one of the island's beaches which have together brought a total of 265 hatchlings.
Monday's hatching produced 47 hatchlings while the fourth nest produced 46 hatchlings on Sunday. Three other nests that hatched in the last weeks produced 44, 60 and 68 hatchlings, respectively.
The Environment and Resources Authority and Nature Trust Malta reported on Monday that the fifth nest had hatched on Gnejna Bay.
The nest had been initially discovered on July 18. It contained a total of 75 eggs, but when the nest was carefully opened to assess its contents, the authorities found that 47 of the eggs had successfully hatched.
This came a day after another nest originally found at Ghajn Tuffieha but relocated to Golden Bay for safety, had also hatched.
Malta this summer had an extraordinary sea turtle nesting season. There are still three turtle nests that are being guarded by volunteers around the clock, ensuring the safety of both eggs and hatchlings.
