These cute sea tortoises, which are on the list of animals that are becoming extinct worldwide, come to the Iztuzu beach in Dalyan to lay their eggs. The excessive hunting due to their consummation as a luxury food item in France, Italy, and Far East countries has caused Caretta Caretta species to become nearly extinct. With Dalyan residents efforts Iztuzu beach is under protection at the present time. Even a Turkish-German partnership hotel's construction that was started in 1980 was demolished after its foundations were laid with the efforts of Dalyan residents, the foreigners that lived there, Wild Life Preservation Association, and various other environment associations.

Caretta Caretta's length can be 115 cm to 160 cm, their weight 70 to 90 kilograms, their shells are brown, and their bellies orange colored. Caretta Carettas usually feed on seaweed, and live in colonies. Their lifespan is guessed to be 70 years. Laying eggs every 2-3 years, Caretta Carettas bury their tennis ball sized eggs in one of the holes that they dig by using their back legs. Digging several holes, the tortoises (They possibly try to hide the location of the eggs by digging several holes, or they check for the moisture level, and pick the most suitable hole) bury 80 to 100 eggs in one of these holes. The egg laying period lasts for hours, and the mother tortoise literally cries the whole time, as if hurting badly. The incubation period on the Iztuzu beach lasts for 55-60 days between the months of May and July..

It has been observed that the males come out of the egg in approximately 28.5 degrees Celsius, whereas the females in 32 degrees Celsius around the beginning of July, and the entire activity goes on until the month of September. There are several natural enemies of the laid eggs, starting with the foxes. The foxes locate the precious eggs by sniffling them, and feed on them. The babies that come out of the eggs instinctively move towards the light that reflects from the sea, and advance in the direction of their natural habitat. However most of them get confused and lost, dying from thirst. Most of the ones that make it to the sea cannot escape from becoming feed for the crabs, the fish, and the birds.