Turtle returns to sea after injury treatment
Home at last!
This turtle is returning to sea after an injury
Location: Palmahim Beach National Park, Israel
Date: August 5, 2021
Fishermen found Stitch, a loggerhead sea turtle, off Israel's coast
with a fishing hook lodge in her mouth
After spending nine months at Israel's Sea Turtle Rescue Center
Stitch can finally go back to the Mediterranean Sea
(SOUNDBITE) (English) OLGA RYBAK, WORKER AT ISRAEL'S SEA TURTLE RESCUE CENTER, SAYING:"Today she was already strong and healthy and gained a lot of weight and was ready to be released. Now, it's an adult sea turtle so it's about 20, 30 years and more, and it means she can join the reproductive population of the Mediterranean, so we're really happy we (could) save this turtle, so (she) will generate more turtles in the future."
Source: U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Loggerheads can live over 70-80 years
and female reach maturity at around 35 years of age
