A shocked kitesurfer received far more than they expected when they noticed a stick drifting in the surf. Upon closer examination, they realised something living was attached to the end of the broken branch.
It quickly became clear that the stick was actually lodged onto a turtle. Wildlife Rescue Team Malta revealed they received a call to save the creature at approximately 10am on March 19.
The volunteers tried to reach the turtle but discovered the windy conditions meant their “willpower alone” wouldn’t be sufficient. This forced them to request assistance from the Civil Protection.
Following a search of the waters, they successfully retrieved the turtle, only to find its flippers had become entangled in plastic. Wildlife Rescue Team Malta stated: “Thankfully, after examination from our vet, the entanglement was not extremely tight and we’re hopeful she will make a full recovery.”
The rescuers continued by explaining that every creature they save is regarded as a “protected species” and are illegal to possess in Malta. They have now called on people to be careful about discarding their waste.
“It is very important that we dispose of our rubbish in a responsible manner, and when out at sea or at the beach, to always make sure we leave nothing behind us,” a spokesman told The Dodo.
Supporters on social media commended the volunteers’ efforts. Deborah Strahs commented: “Fantastic work. Thank you for all you do to help. As a SCUBA diver I do my best to collect trash while enjoying the ocean’s beauty.”
Meanwhile Lee-Ann Bailey commented: “What a blessing that someone did the right thing and cleaned up that mess around the turtle. If we all did the right thing then that mess would not have been in the ocean to begin with. Go Belle! Be a turtle.”
Pam Buziak remarked: “You people do such great work. I’m so happy Belle wasn’t seriously injured. Thankfully another happy ending!”.
The WWF states that sea turtles face the threat of drowning when they become trapped in items such as fishing equipment. This occurs because they cannot always return to the surface for air.
The marine reptile is classified as an endangered species, with habitat destruction, illegal hunting, and fishing industry waste amongst its greatest threats, according to the conservation group.
Annually, hundreds of thousands of turtles are believed to become trapped in fishing nets and on hooks.
The organisation explained: “WWF aims to reduce turtle bycatch by working with fisheries to switch to more turtle-friendly fishing hooks (‘circle’ hooks). We advocate for the use of special turtle excluder devices in nets.
“WWF has worked with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop lights to reduce the bycatch of turtles in gill nets.”