Loggerhead sea turtle lays eggs on a Toulon beach for the first time
A loggerhead sea turtle has laid eggs on a Toulon beach for the first time, with conservation teams protecting the rare nesting site as the eggs begin their 45 to 70-day incubation period.
A loggerhead sea turtle has laid eggs on a beach in Toulon for the first time, marking a significant milestone for marine conservation along the French Mediterranean coast.
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The turtle came ashore during the night of 14–15 July at Anse Tabarly, near the Yacht Club of Toulon, where she dug a nest beneath an upturned catamaran just a few metres from the shoreline.
The Émergence association, which coordinates the French Mediterranean Marine Turtle Network (RTMMF), secured the nesting site in partnership with the City of Toulon.
Scientists collected samples from the nest and installed monitoring equipment to protect the eggs and track their development.
The nest is the seventh loggerhead nesting site recorded on the French Mediterranean coast in 2026, but the first ever documented in Toulon.
The eggs are expected to incubate for 45 to 70 days before the hatchlings emerge and make their way to the sea.
Experts say the site will be closely monitored, as the beach's mix of fine sand and pebbles could affect incubation conditions and make it more difficult for the young turtles to reach the water.
The loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) is a threatened species protected under French law.
Conservationists are reminding the public to keep their distance from nesting turtles, avoid using lights or flash photography, refrain from touching the animals or eggs, and report any sightings to the RTMMF to help protect future nesting sites.