Under protection due to the danger of their species going extinct, Hatay's Samandağ district is one of the very rare breeding spots for Caretta carettas and Green Sea Turtles. The rare turtles lay their eggs along the Samandağ seashore in the months of May and June. The baby Caretta caretta turtles are now hatching and making their way to the sea in the dawn hours.
The Samandağ seaside is the home to 500-600 nests in which this year alone 13,500 turtles were born.