Driver Given 60 Thousand TRY Fine for Damaging Caretta Caretta Nests

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The driver who damaged the nests of caretta carettas, known as loggerhead sea turtles, has been given a fine of 60 thousand Turkish Lira (TRY).

The driver drifted his car in Obalar beach in Kumluca, Antalya, where the caretta carettas, a species under protection as threatened with extinction, lay their eggs. Damaging the nests of turtles by drifting, the driver's driving license was seized and he was also given a traffic ticket of 110 TRY.

The Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks has given a fine of 60 thousand 163 TRY to the driver for having violated the article on "protection of biological diversity and the ecosystem harboring this diversity" and a fine of 400 TRY for damaging the nests of four turtles.

What happened?

On July 20, a driver drifted his car in Obalar beach in Kumluca, Antalya, where the caretta carettas lay their eggs. 75-year-old Şehabettin Yaşar saw the incident and warned the driver, indicating that since it is the breeding site of turtles, it is forbidden to drive cars there. Damaging the nests, three people hurled insults and swears at Yaşar and battered him.

People walking along the Kumluca beach found a wounded caretta caretta. The turtle lost its life despite the medical treatment. (AÖ/SD)