The journey took less than an hour, when almost 6 miles, the precious cargo that the Nereide, a CESAM vessel, was carrying was returned to the ocean. After months of recovery, five common turtles (Caretta caretta) returned to smell the sea and continued their journey in the blue vastness, which had been interrupted months before.
The five loggerhead turtles were admitted to the animal rehabilitation center at Ecomare (CRAM-ECOMARE) between September 2023 and March this year.
Some were found on the coast, others delivered by fishermen between the areas of Aveiro and Peniche. Storms, sea disturbances and accidental capture in fishing gear were the causes that made it impossible for these reptiles to continue their oceanic journey. Some required longer recovery periods due to pneumonia and flipper injuries, but the dedication and experience of CRAM biologists, veterinarians and technicians allowed these extraordinary animals to have a second opportunity to venture into the great ocean.
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