Turtle returns to sea at Torrevieja after year long recovery

A TURTLE that was wounded a year ago by the propeller of a boat has been released in to the sea in Torrevieja.
Having spent a year in captivity to recover from the serious injuries that appeared on it’s face and back of the skull, the turtle, named ‘Habanera,’ has been released on the Los Naufragos beach by municipal biologist Juan Antonio Pujol and several veterinarians from the Oceanographic centre in Valencia.
When first released Habanera did not move but soon swam off on its own path to freedom.
The turtle spent nine months being fed through a tube and required a lot of care and attention after being rescued thanks to the monitoring programme of birds, turtles and aquatic mammals (SATCO) which has recovered more than 200 animals in the Valencia Region, of which over 9 per cent have been recovered and returned to the sea.