Rescued Turtles Released Back to the Wild

Turks & Caicos News - December 2012

Rescued Turtles Released Back to the Wild

Six turtles rescued by the Turks and Caicos Turtle Project over two years ago were deemed fit for release and set free to rejoin their wild counterparts Dec. 12 on Grace Bay Beach. The Turtle Project, with support from the Conch Farm, has been nursing the six Green Sea Turtles back to health over the last twenty-four months. The young turtles suffered from various injuries or maladies at the time of their rescue but today are healthy turtles expected to live long and full lives.

The Green Sea Turtle is primarily herbivorous and common throughout the world however, it has been listed as endangered as its populations are in decline due to loss of breeding grounds, pollution, and fishing. Project Officer for the Marine Conservation Society, Amdeep Sanghera, estimates there are only about ten TCI Nesting Green Turtles left in the islands.

The Turtle Project is currently working toward getting new legislation passed in the Turks and Caicos Islands that will protect the green sea turtle as adults, since the current laws only protect eggs and turtles under 20 pounds. The new legislation seeks to set restrictions that protect adult and sub-adult turtles, especially nesting females, by instituting closed seasons similar to legislation currently in place for conch and lobster.

The healthy young turtles were given a final farewell on Grace Bay beach near Coral Gardens where the public was given the opportunity to see and interact with the marine reptiles one last time before their release. After addressing the crowd and thanking those involved with the turtles’ upkeep, Sanghera, and others involved with the Turtle Project, asked observers to clear a path to the water as they placed the turtles on the beach and bid a fond farewell as they instinctively headed for the water and a new life in the wild.

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Written by Turks & Caicos Free Press Newspaper, December 17th, 2012