Following our feature last month, we are about to enter the last 20 days of the incubation process for the eggs laid by the leatherback turtle in Gnejna.
The Malta Independent caught up with Executive Director of Nature Trust Vincent Attard, to get an overview of what the next crucial steps are to be.
We asked Attard what precautions were being taken now that the big day is approaching.
"Come 10th August, new regulations will be put into place by the Environment Resource Authority (ERA), mainly controlling lights and activities on the beach. They have already been doing some tests with Enemalta to see how lighting could be altered, whilst also speaking with the individuals who own boathouses and the kiosks in the area.
"The eggs are expected to hatch on the 25th or 26th August, but precautions are being taken nonetheless. With the heat wave we're having, anything could kick the eggs to hate prematurely.
"Until now we have not had any major problems with regards to flash rains or waves, and we hope that if the eggs are fertilised they will hatch," Attard said.
Controversy had erupted when a security guard had driven his car onto the sand, close to where the eggs are buried. Attard does not believe that the incident had any effect on the eggs, but the NGO has taken precautions nonetheless.
"It was at a very early stage, so in reality it shouldn't have had any real effect. Obviously one cannot say, because scientists have a lot of theories. We take all the precautions possible.
"One of the theories out there is that metal can affect their compass system in the brain, so this year we placed wooden poles at the front part of the nest facing the sea. There is no scientific proof of this but we are taking all precautions to make it as successful as possible. We are taking a precautionary approach to ensure that we don't have any additional risks we won't be able to foresee.
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