Eight Sea Turtles Rescued and Released After Plastic Bag Entanglement
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Eight sea turtles were rescued and rehabilitated after becoming entangled in plastic bags along Israel's Mediterranean coast. The turtles, including loggerheads and green sea turtles, were found in various locations and suffered injuries ranging from entanglement to limb amputation. The Nature and Parks Authority is using these cases to educate the public on the proper procedure for rescuing entangled sea turtles, emphasizing the danger of premature removal of the entanglement.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Eight sea turtles were rescued and released after being entangled in plastic bags off Israel's coast.
- The turtles were found along the Mediterranean coast from Ashkelon to Netanya.
- One turtle required the amputation of a front limb due to severe entanglement injuries.
- The National Center for Sea Turtle Rescue treated the animals.
- The Authority advises against removing entanglements before bringing turtles for treatment.
Eight sea turtles, entangled in plastic bags, have been rescued and rehabilitated before being released back into the sea off the Israeli coast. The turtles, including five young loggerheads and three green sea turtles, were found along the Mediterranean coast from Ashkelon to Netanya during the summer.
One of the loggerheads, named Hanoch, was found by instructors from the Makmurat Emek Hefer sailing club with plastic bag strings wrapped around its neck and limbs. The instructors correctly left the bag intact and brought the turtle to the National Center for Sea Turtle Rescue of the Nature and Parks Authority. After rehabilitation, Hanoch and four other young loggerheads were released at sea with the help of the club.
In a separate case, a mature loggerhead named Herzl was rescued from a plastic bag in Palmahim. Two young green sea turtles, Muriel and Ramon, were also found entangled. Muriel was discovered by a paddleboarder, while Ramon was found near Ga'ash with severe limb damage, necessitating the amputation of his front left flipper. Muriel and Ramon shared a rehabilitation pool before being released at sea with assistance from the "Prigal" sailing club of Sedot Yam. Dozens of schoolchildren and kindergarteners from Sedot Yam came to bid farewell to the turtles before their release.
The Nature and Parks Authority urges the public to leave any plastic bag or fishing line entanglement on rescued sea turtles and bring them to the center immediately. They warn that removing the entanglement prematurely can be fatal, as toxins and bacteria accumulated in the tissue can spread throughout the body with the renewed blood flow.