The turtles, which were undergoing rehabilitation at Zoomarine’s “Safe Haven”, were returned to the sea approximately ten nautical miles south of Portimão with the support of the Portuguese Navy.
Zoomarine released two sea turtles of the “Carretta Carretta” species back into the sea in Portimão on Thursday, May 16th. The first turtle, named Vanora, was discovered in early March at Praia Grande in Sintra, facing a life-threatening situation. Collected by RALVT (Rede de Arrojamentos de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo), he was sent to Zoomarine’s Porto d’Abrigo Safe Haven in Guia for rehabilitation.
Upon arrival at the Zoomarine rehabilitation centre, it was in a comatose state, weighing just 242.3 grams, 11.4 cm long and with a minor injury to his carapace. Upon its release, he weighed 544.7 grams, more than double what it weighed when it arrived at Porto d’Abrigo.
Ukiyo, the second turtle, has been in rehabilitation since November 2023. She was found stranded in the mud on the Carrapateira River (Bordeira, Aljezur) and delivered to a GNR post, where she remained safe until the Porto d’Abrigo team arrived.
Prostrate, very thin and with physical signs of dehydration, she had several superficial injuries along her limbs, head and carapace. At entry, she weighed 2.24 kg and was 24.6 cm long, which increased to 4.9 kg and 29.6 cm when returned to the sea.
For Antonieta Nunes, the veterinary nurse in charge of Zoomarine’s Porto d’Abrigo, the recovery and release of Vanora and Ukiyo back into their natural habitat marks a major achievement. This event highlights Porto d’Abrigo’s commitment to rescuing and rehabilitating marine animals, offering them a new opportunity to thrive in the wild. The story of these turtles is a testimony to the positive impact we can have on the conservation and protection of the marine environment, as long as we work together towards this purpose.”
The turtles were returned to the sea about ten nautical miles south of Portimão, thanks to the support of the Portuguese Navy who allocated resources initially intended for a maritime patrol exercise to ensure Vanora and Ukiyo could safely go back to their natural habitat without causing any environmental impact.
The two turtles are one of the most common sea turtle species in Portuguese waters, listed as a protected species and classified as “vulnerable” by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).
