The loggerhead turtles are known for nesting & laying their eggs around the sandy beaches of Cape de Verde islands. Cape de Verde islands is the third most important nesting area for loggerhead turtles in the world. Turtles are at risk from hunting for meat, stealing of eggs, removal of sand while building and unregulated tourism development. The loggerhead turtles in Cape de Verde islands are protected by SOS turtle / Turtle foundation when nesting & laying their eggs, and the hatching is carefully monitored.

In Cape de Verde island of Sal, the loggerhead turtles are nesting and laying their eggs along the whole southern coast, but the best spot for finding them in Sal is probably the southeast coast, at walking distance from town Santa Maria. Walk here, don’t come with a quad, driving at these beaches is forbidden. Even if you visit when the baby turtles have already hatched, you can still find remaining sand holes & empty egg shells along the beaches. There are also turtle nesting beaches around Boa Vista & Santiago.

The loggerhead turtles live in the ocean, but come up to the beach to nest and lay their eggs at night in the mounths of july, august & september. The female comes ashore usually 3 to 5 times, at intervals of 10 to 15 days, to build a nest and lay about 100 eggs each time. The baby turtles are then hatched after 60 days, in september – december, and there are guided tours by the SOS Turtle organisation which also protect and monitor loggerhead the turtles.

You can donate or adopt turtles to help preserve their nesting beaches and save the species. More information on protection programs, donations and turtle adoption here:
http://www.turtle-foundation.org/ProjectCapeVerde/tabid/80/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://turtlesoscaboverde.blogspot.se/