Calis is famous for its Caretta turtle (Caretta caretta). It´s one of the seven sea turtle kinds, which still exist today. All the turtles are now an endangered species. During April and September the beach is home to the turtles at night, who come out of the sea to lay their eggs.
Most of the tourists do not know this, so if you spot a cage on the beach, then this is where a turtle has been and layed eggs. This is done to protect the eggs, and if you are lucky you may actually see the turtles laying their eggs. This special protection is necessary to preserve these endangered species, but still allows use of the beach for walks, sunbathing and swimming. All we ask is that you respect the turtles and keep the beach safe and clean for your own protection and for the turtles.
This nature protection project runs since 1993, it is initiated by the university of Vienna. The European biologists work close together with their associates of the Turkish universities of Izmir, Denizli and Aydin. The students come from these, every year in summer to work for the project in Calis, as well as students from around the world.
The scientific work locally represents one of the bases, in order to be able to meet at all meaningful preventive measures. Since many years we support this project by inviting the students for meals in our hotel.