TTwo sub-adult females and an adult male of Caretta Caretta were released today into the sea of Puolo in Massa Lubrense, within the Punta Campanella Marine Protected Area.
The turtles, saved in the winter thanks to the prompt intervention of the Punta Campanella Marine Protected Area and the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station of Naples with the support of the Salerno fishermen Antonio Mai and Luigi Guida, had suffered accidents during fishing trips off the Gulf of Salerno, becoming entangled in nets and risking death by drowning or embolism.
After months of specialized care at the turtle recovery center of the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Rita, Noemi and Kevin, the names given to the three turtles, have finally returned to swimming freely in their natural habitat.
The release took place in the presence of children and school groups who participated in an environmental education project with the Marine Protected Area, and local authorities, including the president and director of the Punta Campanella MPA, Lucio Cacace and Lucio De Maio, and the Port Authority.
The event represents a symbol of the fruitful collaboration between different entities committed to the protection of marine fauna: the Punta Campanella Marine Protected Area, the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station, local fishermen and the Port Authority.
Thanks to this synergy, dozens of sea turtles have been saved in recent years. The rescue network will be further strengthened with the opening of a First Aid Center in Massa Lubrense, funded by the Campania Region.
Furthermore, during the next summer months, the turtle protection network will be active throughout the region to identify and monitor the nests of Caretta Caretta along the Campania coasts, particularly in the areas of Cilento and Castelvolturno.
The joint commitment of these institutions and the collaboration of citizens are essential for the conservation of this marine species so important for the Mediterranean ecosystem.
Article published on 23 April 2024 - 21:01
