Holidaymakers and greens alike were stunned at the weekend when around 100

Caretta-Caretta turtles hatched from their nest on a busy beach at Yermasoyia in Limassol.

The appearance of the rare turtle species startled beachgoers, while the hatchlings’ safety was threatened as they made their way to the busy street across the beach distracted and misled by the town’s bright lights.

“Something unexpected took place late on Sunday evening at a popular beach at Yermasoyia. Dozens of baby turtles of the endangered species hatched from the nest apparently chosen by their mother approximately seven weeks earlier,” said Maria Costantinou, an officer for the Young Greens.

The hatching took place around midnight before the eyes of surprised beachgoers, who alerted the Young Greens as the baby turtles started wandering around in all directions.

A rescue mission was immediately launched by the organization in cooperation with police officers from Yermasoyia station, who tried to track down the disoriented hatchlings and direct them back into the sea.

“The small unexpected visitors scattered along the beach were at risk from passersby and cars. It appears that some baby turtles got confused by the artificial light and moved to the wrong direction. With lenses and buckets we managed to collect the disoriented hatchlings and lead them back to the sea to start their long journey,” Costantinou explained.

“We hope that after a few decades some of these baby turtles will survive and return to the shores of our island,” she added.

The main habitat for Caretta-Caretta in Cyprus is the quiet Lara beach in Akamas where they are in an area protected from noise and lights, although turtle hatchlings have made their appearance in Limassol in the past.

The last recorded incident took place four years ago when turtle hatchlings again appeared at a Yermasoyia tourist area beach.

In the Mediterranean, the Caretta-Caretta mates from late March to early June. The female nesting season is at its peak in June and July, but this depends on the nesting beach.

After approximately 60 days, the hatchlings emerge usually at night when protection from predation is greater. Because they usually follow the brightest light to the ocean's edge, artificial lights from human activity can lead them astray. Once in the ocean, they use ocean currents to travel to the Sargasso Sea until they mature.