The Palma Aquarium Foundation has returned the Caretta caretta turtle 'Nura' to the sea at Playa de Palma, after several months of veterinary treatment. The event was part of the national campaign 'Here We Save Turtles'.
The sea turtle Nura returned to the sea this Thursday at Playa de Palma, after undergoing a rehabilitation process at the Palma Aquarium's Sea Turtle Recovery Centre. The specimen of the Caretta caretta species was released in front of children from the Palma Aquarium Summer Campus, who participated in an educational day about conservation.
The release coincided with the launch of the national campaign “Here We Save Turtles”, promoted by the Oceanogràfic Foundation, which aims to involve citizens, coastal municipalities, and local entities in the protection of sea turtles. The initiative arrived in Mallorca through the Palma Aquarium Foundation, which acts as a reference centre in the Islands for the recovery of these animals.
During the event, a technician from the foundation gave a talk to the children about the protocol for action when finding a sea turtle or a nest on the coast. Attendees were able to learn firsthand about the work that veterinarians and biologists do to return these injured or sick animals to the sea.
The release of Nura served as an example of the results of coordination between administrations, technical teams, and citizens. “It is essential to act correctly when a turtle is found on the beach,” stated the organization, highlighting that citizen collaboration is key to the species' survival.
Institutional representatives from various municipalities on the island attended the event. Among them were the head of the Species Protection Service of the Govern de les Illes Balears, Tomeu Moragues; the councillor for Commerce, Restoration and Self-Employed of the Ajuntament de Palma, Guadalupe Ferrer; the deputy mayor of Roads and Works, Energy Transition, Environment and Climate Change of the Ajuntament de Calvià, Juan Thomas Quetglas; the Environment technician of the Ajuntament de Muro, Jaume Ramon Nadal; and the councillor for the Environment of the Ajuntament de Capdepera, Manuel Filgueiras Posada. Also present were the president of the Palma Aquarium Foundation, Joan Rams, and the director of the foundation, Debora Morrison.
The campaign 'Here We Save Turtles' is part of a national effort to protect sea turtles, whose populations are threatened by pollution, fishing nets, and maritime traffic. In the Balearics, the Palma Aquarium Foundation is the authorised centre for the recovery of these animals, and annually cares for several specimens that arrive injured on the shores.
For the residents of Mallorca, the release of Nura serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving the marine ecosystem. “Anyone who finds a turtle on the beach should call 112 and not handle it,” the technicians reminded. Citizen collaboration, along with the work of recovery centres, allows animals like Nura to have a second chance.
The day concluded with the release of the animal, which swam out to sea amidst the applause of the attendees. The Palma Aquarium Foundation encouraged the public to learn how to act when spotting sea turtles and to participate in awareness activities that will be organised in the coming months at various locations on the island.
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