Sea turtles make a comeback on beaches at two British military bases in Cyprus

Protected green and loggerhead sea turtles are enjoying a major comeback on the beaches of two British military bases on the island of Cyprus, with nest numbers exceeding last year’s record by nearly 25 percent, conservationists said on Tuesday.

A total of 382 sea turtle nests have been recorded across all beaches on base this year, 100 more than last year.

Alexia Perdiu, the base’s environmental and police officer, said decades of work by base authorities to protect the nests was paying off, given that an average of only 30 turtle nests were found on the base’s beaches each year between 1994 and 2011.

The turnaround is remarkable, considering that only 1 in 1,000 hatchlings survive to adulthood.

“The rapid increase in turtle nests is the result of law enforcement efforts and a consistent and coordinated ‘hands-off’ approach to minimize illegal and destructive activities on nesting beaches,” Perdiu said.

Contributing to the increase in nests is that most of the beaches on base are undeveloped and aluminum cages installed over the nests to protect the turtles from predators such as foxes and dogs are left in place by daily patrols by volunteers, she said.

Any human activity on the beach, including driving cars, barbecue parties or powerful lights, is punishable by fines of up to 17,000 euros ($19,000) or three years in prison.

Despite this success, Perdiou said authorities have no plans to relax their conservation efforts, working with the Cypriot government, local authorities and volunteers.

Britain maintained two military bases along the southern coast of Cyprus after the eastern Mediterranean island gained independence from colonial rule in 1960. The bases are among the Royal Air Force’s busiest and most complex airfields and are home to vital communications facilities.

Base officials said more than 1 billion pounds ($1.32 billion) could be invested at the base over the next 10 years.

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