Torrevieja's successful animal rescues

RESCUE: one of the turtles rescued along Torrevieja's beaches in 2014

TWO loggerhead turtles were rescued off the coast of Torrevieja last year, along with seven sea birds.

Councillor for Environment and Beaches, Francisco Moreno, announced the figures from the Global Data Monitoring Programme for Stranded Animals. The councillor said in 2014 there were two whales found dead on the shore at La Mata and Los Locos, highlighting the large number of sightings of dolphins along the coast last year.

As well as rescuing the two loggerhead turtles, a further four dead turtles were found, believed killed by boat collisions and hooks, usually coinciding with strong maritime storms. The two rescued turtles were sent to the Generalitat regional government’s Arca del Mar marine biology centre, which is managed by the oceanographic centre in Valencia. The first turtle was successfully released two months after being admitted but the second, named Habanera as it was rescued during the Habanera contest in the summer, remains at the centre having undergone facial reconstruction surgery on a gash caused by a propeller.

The five birds rescued, all Audouin’s gulls, were sent to the Wildlife Recovery Centre in Santa Faz, Alicante.

Councillor Moreno noted that stranded programmes would not be possible without the involvement of fishermen, the Real Club Nautico of Torrevieja and the International Marina Yacht Club, as well as the participation of the many citizens who helped with the rescues.

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