The Palma Aquarium Foundation has released the turtle Nura and launched the national campaign "Here We Save Turtles" to raise awareness about the protection of sea turtles in the Balearics.
The sea turtle Nura has returned to the sea. The turtle, recovered at the Palma Aquarium Recovery Centre, was released this week on a beach in the Balearics in an event that marked the kickoff of the national campaign "Here We Save Turtles". The initiative, driven by the Palma Aquarium Foundation, aims to involve residents and tourists in the protection of these species along the Balearic coast.
Representatives from the Balearic Government and the municipalities of Palma, Calvià, Muro, and Capdepera attended the event, along with children from the Summer Campus, who received training on the protocol for acting upon finding a turtle. The release of Nura, a turtle that entered the centre injured, was the most emotional moment of the day.
The campaign, which will run throughout the summer months, will focus on disseminating three basic guidelines through informational posters in promenades and bathing areas. The first is to call 112 immediately if an injured animal or a nesting female is detected. The second is to maintain distance and not surround the animal or block its path. The third is to avoid using lights or flashes that may disorient or scare the turtle.
Several municipalities in the archipelago have already joined the protection network, including Palma, Muro, Capdepera, Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, Sant Joan de Labritja, Maó, and Formentera. More localities are expected to join in the coming months, thus expanding the coverage of the surveillance and rescue network.
The majority of the turtles that enter the Palma Aquarium Recovery Centre are rescued thanks to reports from individuals. This campaign strengthens the alliance between citizens, institutions, and technical teams to ensure the species' survival. "Saving a turtle is an extraordinary achievement, but the real success is getting thousands of people to know how to act correctly when finding one," highlights the Foundation.
For residents and visitors to the Balearics, the campaign represents an opportunity to actively contribute to marine conservation. Knowing how to react to a stranded turtle or a nesting female can make the difference between life and death for the animal. The Foundation reminds that citizen collaboration is key: most rescues originate from calls to 112.
Summer is the peak season for turtle sightings along the Balearic coasts, both due to the arrival of females to nest and the increased influx of bathers. Therefore, the campaign focuses on prevention and direct information on the beaches. The posters will include a QR code linking to a complete action guide.
The release of Nura and the launch of "Here We Save Turtles" mark a milestone in the conservation strategy for sea turtles in the Balearics. The Palma Aquarium recovery centre is a reference in the archipelago and has successfully returned dozens of turtles to the sea in recent years. The new campaign aims to multiply that impact.
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