Over 100 Nature Trust Malta volunteers are taking part in the turtle nest watch at Ramla Bay this year following a loggerhead turtle that nested in this Gozo bay.
The volunteers will now be more easily unidentifiable, because of a number of bright t-shirts sponsored by the HSBC Malta Foundation.
The next was discovered on the 19th July [1] and in fact was the first discovery of a turtle nest for this year.
NTM said that it is always an exciting period when one of our planets Planet’s endangered species such as the loggerhead turtle, nests on one of our beaches.
“We are contributing like many other countries around the world in ensuring the nest has a higher success rate in hatchlings and protecting the nest from predators such as rats etc that may eat the eggs while in the incubation process under the sand. The hatching is expected in September,” NTM said.
Turtles had returned to in Malta in 2012 although eye witness reports mention previous nesting in Ramla Gozo. However it seems no one ever reported these officially.
NTM explained that Ramla is considered a good beach for turtle nesting. One of the main challenges is another protected species that is found there at Ramla – that is the Ghost Crab. This crab likes to feed on turtle eggs too. This means if unguarded many eggs would not hatch and end up prey to this cray.
Glenn Bugeja, Corporate Sustainability Manager at HSBC Bank Malta said, “the conservation and restoration of the natural environment have always been at the forefront of the Bank’s Corporate Sustainability agenda.”
He added that, “through our HSBC Malta Foundation, we are focusing on creating a sustainable future that leaves a positive impact on our society, environment, and economy. While our aim is to ensure that our operations are net zero by 2030, we feel that it is equally important to contribute our support towards present causes such as the conservation projects by Nature Trust Malta.”
Nature Trust President Vincent Attard thanked HSBC Malta for their CSR support towards its work in nature conservation.