Pregnant turtle rescued and released into the sea in Northern Cyprus

Meritta Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center has successfully completed the treatment and returned three sea turtles to their natural habitat. The ceremonial release of the animals took place on the shared beach of the Merit Royal and Merit Crystal Cove hotels. Among the rescued turtles was a pregnant Caretta-Caretta female, saved from suffocation, whose survival will allow hundreds of new hatchlings to come into the world.

Information about the rescued turtles:
All three reptiles were brought to the center by volunteers and local residents because of the risk of drowning (suffocation underwater):
— «Yıldız» (Yıldız) — a green sea turtle found by Mahmut Karabetcho.
— «Eva» (Eva) — a green sea turtle found by Captain Shalvar.
— «Ece Seçkin» (Ece Seçkin) — an adult female of the Caretta Caretta species (Caretta Caretta).

Details of the treatment of the pregnant turtle:
During an ultrasound examination (US), the center’s specialists determined that the turtle «Ece Seçkin» was in the breeding period and was carrying a large number of developing eggs. According to the center’s director, biologist Silem Sargyn Kara, this case required special responsibility from the veterinarians:
— A specialized combined therapy program was developed to treat the female’s lung infection without harming the future offspring.
— The reptile’s condition and the development of the clutch were continuously monitored using ultrasound, tests and behavioral assessments.

Environmental value of the operation:
Silem Sargyn Kara reminded that sea turtles reach reproductive maturity extremely late — only at the age of 20–30 years, and throughout their lives they have a limited number of successful breeding cycles. That is why saving every mature female is critically important for the survival of the population. Timely intervention by specialists made it possible not only to save one animal’s life, but also to protect the gene pool of hundreds of future turtles that will soon hatch on the island’s coast.