Shell-ter Success: A Decade of Conservation

OVER the past ten years the Region of Murcia’s relentless efforts has led to the liberation of more than thirty loggerhead sea turtles. This extraordinary effort really highlights the regional government’s dedication to safeguarding biodiversity. On Thursday, August 10 the 33^rd loggerhead sea turtle was released in the protected area of Cuatro Calas, Águilas, with the help of the acting president for the Region of Murcia Fernando López Miras.

The young turtle that was released measured 54cm long and weighed 21.8 kg had been entangled and injured in the waters of Cabo de Palos. The unfortunate entanglement had severely impaired its ability to swim, resulting in injuries that needed immediate attention. The skilled team at El Valle Wildlife Recovery Centre provided essential care to treat the turtle so he could be released again into the wild. Through clinical examination, fluid therapy, and careful cleaning and disinfection of the affected areas, the team worked tirelessly to nurse the turtle back to health.

🌊🐢 Esta mañana se ha liberado una #TortugaBoba que fue rescatada y atendida en el Centro de Recuperación de Fauna Silvestre 🔝
📍 #PaisajeProtegido #CuatroCalas #Águilas

El #ServicioDeInformación se quedó informando a los visitantes sobre la campaña #TerritorioTortuga 🌊🐢 pic.twitter.com/l7T1vHj04E

— Espacios Naturales Región de Murcia (@EspNaturalesMur) August 10, 2023

The loggerhead turtle is categorised as vulnerable in the Special Protection Regime list and the Spanish Catalogue of Threatened Species with an ‘endangered’ status by the IUCN. Among the threats faced by these turtles are plastic ingestion and the ingestion of floating debris and pollutants that pose long-term consequences for their survival. Additionally, accidental capture in fishing nets and entanglement in discarded fishing lines or drifting fibers further exacerbate the challenges faced by loggerhead turtles. Conservationists also point out the critical significance of preserving nesting beaches for these turtles as habitat disruption challenges their survival.

Este ejemplar de tortuga boba en #Águilas vuelve a su medio natural tras un proceso de recuperación en nuestro centro de El Valle.

La #RegióndeMurcia es #TerritorioTortuga 🐢☺️. pic.twitter.com/u04lSAnAac

— Fernando López Miras (@LopezMirasF) August 10, 2023

However, the success stories of rescued loggerhead turtles give us hope. After the release, López Miras said ‘The protection of the environment and the species of our ecosystem is one of the priorities of the Government of the Region of Murcia.’ Highlighting the importance of this work by saying ‘This is yet another example of the good functioning and coordination that characterises the Wildlife Recovery Centre.’