Saved turtle being cared for at San Lucjan

A Loggerhead turtle which swallowed a fishing hook with a nylon long-line was saved by Enemalta personnel last week after finding its way to the Marsa Power station and is being rehabilitated by conservation biologist Adriana Vella with volunteer assistance by the non-governmental association Bicref, at San Lucjan.

The assistance is being given as part of ongoing turtle conservation research at the University.

At the rehabilitation centre the turtle received preliminary care prior to a veterinary check-up. It had a broken carapace and was found to have swallowed a fishing hook with nylon long-line.

Bicref said that various turtles needing assistance around the Maltese Islands often suffered from such conditions, and ingested wrappers and plastic found in the sea. To conserve legally protected marine turtles focused work needed to be promoted and supported, such as with the ongoing conservation research at the University and rehabilitation at the San Lucjan centre.

Bicref said that on the same day that the Loggerhead turtle was saved, another was reported to need assistance at Birzebbuga Bay. This was a dead freshwater red-eared terrapine, locally kept as a pet.

The organisation stressed the need to make sure that the increasing number of exotic pets brought to Malta was kept under some control.