65 sea turtles cared for by the La Rochelle aquarium care center were released into the ocean

The aquarium regularly releases turtles cared for in its center into the water, but the scale of the operation on Tuesday was particularly large with 65 specimens.

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franceinfo – with France Bleu La Rochelle

Radio France

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A turtle cared for by the La Rochelle Aquarium turtle care center is returned to the sea during an operation, on the Ile de Ré, in the southwest of France, on June 8, 2023. (MEHDI FEDOUACH / AFP)

The La Rochelle aquarium (Charente-Maritime) carried out on Tuesday May 28 the return to the water of 65 sea turtles collected in its study and care center for sea turtles, reports France Bleu La Rochelle. The turtles were released on a beach north of the Île de Ré, in the town of Saint-Clément-des-Baleines.

The aquarium regularly releases turtles cared for in its center, but this release was particularly important, with 65 specimens returning to the ocean. During the last two operations, in June and October 2023, around fifteen turtles were released.

Oum and Oxygène, the two largest of the 65 turtles, have been equipped with scientific tags. “Satellite transmitters will allow us to better understand their movements, what environmental factors will influence their movements, explains Florence Dell’Amico, the head of the study and care center, at the microphone of France Bleu. This is very important to improve our knowledge of these species and their protection.”

Since its creation more than 30 years ago, the aquarium’s sea turtle study and care center has welcomed sea turtles reported in distress across the entire Channel-Atlantic coast and cared for them. He has already collected and released more than 350 turtles.


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