Once-threatened sea turtles are increasing in number due to warmer waters and protection initiatives: Mediterranean Loggerhead sea turtles may be one of the few species thriving under climate change, as rising ocean temperatures are helping the threatened species expand its habitat to western Mediterranean beaches, Reuters reports, citing a study. The world's largest hard-shelled turtle has been part of protection programs in a number of countries including Spain and Cape Verde, which has also contributed to increasing the number of nests and eggs on beaches in the western Mediterranean.

Nest numbers have increased dramatically: The most recent data shows that the number of nests in 2020 reached 84 in France, Italy, Spain, and Tunisia, compared to an average of less than 3 nests per year between 1990-2012, Reuters writes, citing a paper from the scientific journal Global Ecology and Conservation.

Conservationists need to keep a watchful eye on how things pan out long-term: Given that their lifespan reaches 100 years, the full impact of warming waters is still unknown, making it important to observe any potential changes in the turtle’s behavior, Reuters quotes a biologist as saying. The Mediterranean Sea became 1.3 °C warmer between 1982 and 2019.

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