Three Sea Turtles Return to the Wild at Puolo in Massa Lubrense

Three turtles have found freedom in the sea of Puolo at Massa Lubrense, zone C of the Protected Marine Area of Punta Campanella. The three specimens of Caretta Caretta, two subadult females and one adult male, thus resume their journey in the Mediterranean after a few months of forced stop and care. One of the females already has eggs and will be ready to nest in a few weeks. The Caretta Caretta were saved in winter thanks to the prompt intervention of the Protected Marine Area Punta Campanella and the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station. With the fundamental and precious support of the fishermen of Salerno, Antonio Mai and Luigi Guida. The 3 turtles, at different times, were accidentally caught during the usual fishing trips off the Gulf of Salerno. Entangled in the nets, they risked dying from drowning or embolism, due to the too rapid ascent from the depths of the sea. Incidents that unfortunately happen very often, especially in the winter months, when the Caretta Caretta are numbed by the cold and more vulnerable. And for this reason, it is essential not to immediately put them back into the sea once caught. They might not survive. But Rita, Noemi, and Kevin, these are the names of the three turtles released today, were fortunate. The fishermen immediately alerted the Amp Punta Campanella which recovered the specimens and transferred them to the turtle recovery center of the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station. After months in tanks to undergo specialized treatments, today finally the return to the sea from the beach of Puolo, in front of children and school groups invited to participate in the event after having participated in these months in an Environmental Education project with the Protected Marine Area. The event, made possible thanks to the collaboration of operators and local associations of Puolo, was also attended by the president and the director of the Amp Punta Campanella, Lucio Cacace and Lucio De Maio. The Coast Guard was also present. The collaboration between Amp Punta Campanella, fishermen, Anton Dohrn Zoological Station, and the Coast Guard has already saved dozens of sea turtles in recent years. A network of bodies and institutions, in this case beneficial for the Caretta Caretta, which will continue in the work of protecting the species even more effectively thanks to the upcoming opening of a first aid center in Massa Lubrense funded by the Campania Region. The turtle protection network will also be active in the summer months throughout the region to identify and monitor Caretta Caretta nests along the Campanian coasts, especially in the areas of Cilento and Castelvolturno.