Five sea turtles that underwent rehabilitation at the National Sea Turtle Rescue Center of the Nature and Parks Authority were returned to the sea yesterday (Monday).
• Researchers warn: sea turtles are in danger of extinction, over a million have been hunted and traded in the world
• After becoming entangled in debris: two turtles were released back into the sea
Of the five, two are females named Yosef and Einav.
The two were caught in fishing hooks in the northern region, and after they were rescued, they were transferred to receive medical treatment at the rescue center.
After about five months, after the two recovered from their injuries, gained weight and became stronger, they were returned to the sea.
The other three turtles are young green sea turtles, named Avocado, Tilapia and Shagya.
The three were injured by entanglement in plastic waste, and were also transferred to the rescue center for treatment.
Returning a sea turtle back to nature, photo: Amit Ozana
The center was asked that in the event of finding a turtle that is in distress due to entanglement in such waste, not to remove the waste from them or return them to the sea.
The reason is that the release of the waste constitutes a kind of release of arterial blockage, which causes the release of lymph fluids, toxins and pathogens (causes of disease) into the turtle's circulation, which may cause a systemic infection, which without medical intervention - usually ends in death.
Therefore, in the event that a sea turtle is found entangled in waste, do not remove it or release it back into the sea, but call the Nature and Parks Authority hotline at *3639, where they will guide the callers on what to do.
Returning sea turtles back to nature, photo: Shay Kabasa - Nature and Parks Authority
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