A loggerhead sea turtle that was left injured and stationary on a beach in Cumbria earlier this year has been released back into the wild after completing a successful rehabilitation programme at various Sea Life facilities. The creature, called Nazaré, was flown to the Azores for release earlier this month. It was found covered in algae and seaweed, having also suffered from pneumonia when it was first brought to the Sea Life Centre in Blackpool. Nazaré made a full recovery after the team gradually raised its body temperature, provided hydration injections, and kept a watchful eye on its condition around the clock.
The team created floats to ensure the turtle did not drown during the recovery process, as well as using a toothbrush to clean its shell. Once the turtle was deemed healthy enough, they secured a turtle passport, allowing it to be flown to the Azores for release back into the sea. Nazaré was briefly housed at the Porto Pim aquarium in Portugal before being returned to the wild. Before this incident, the turtle had previously been stranded at Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez in France, where it was microchipped and given a satellite tracking device.
Todd German, Sea Life Scarborough curator, remarked on how fortunate Nazaré was to have been rescued and rehabilitated twice. The loggerhead sea turtle is protected by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They are found in many different countries, including the United States, Greece, Australia, and Japan. Their survival is endangered as they are frequently caught in fishing nets and their eggs are often harvested for human consumption, with environmental challenges like pollution, habitat loss, and coastal development exacerbating their issues.
If you have found a stranded sea turtle or other marine mammal, you should contact the Marine Conservation Society on 0330 094 5711 or the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999. The RSPCA advise you should not return a stranded animal back to the sea yourself. You should provide necessary first aid if possible, keep the animal moist, and contact an appropriate rescue team
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