Humans vs Turtles

Drove to Istuzu Beach today where loggerhead turtles come at night to lay their eggs and humans sunbathe during the day,

There is a kind of no mans land between the sun beds and parasols and the sea front where the nests are marked. No one is allowed on the beach between 8pm and 8am.

It's a good (and seemingly hard fought) compromise against hotel development in the area that seems to work, though only a tiny 5% of turtle eggs make it to breeding age.

Just along the coast was the turtle hospital where we saw some of these magnificent creatures that had been damaged by boat propellers and fishing nets.

Brings back guilty memories of backpacking in Malaysia 25 years ago, where we would be drinking in the bars along the beach and a big bell was rung when someone spotted a turtle lumbering up the beach to lay eggs. We tourists would all rush there and watch / take photos etc. Sometimes some drunk idiot would sit on the turtles back and pose.....

And the next day you would see turtle eggs like ping pong balls for sale in the market....