Tuesday, the 29th of October 2024 marked an exciting milestone for the sea turtle conservation project at the Underwater Observatory in Eilat, as three adult hawksbill turtles were released into the wild. Over the past 30 years, the rescue center by the Red Sea has successfully returned over 200 sea turtles to their natural habitat, but this release is special: for the first time, the turtles will not only be microchipped but also equipped with GPS trackers.
Protecting a Critically Endangered Species
The hawksbill turtle is critically endangered, and the team in Eilat has been working for four decades to support population recovery. Their efforts include treating injured turtles and breeding both hawksbill and green sea turtles in captivity. Wild-born turtles face slim odds— only 1 in 1,000 survive to adulthood. Newborns are extremely vulnerable to predators in their first few weeks, which is why the sanctuary often keeps them in a protected environment for a time until they are old enough to have a better chance at survival in the wild.
Taking a New Approach: The Release of Captive Adults
Typically, turtles raised in captivity until adulthood aren’t released due to concerns that they may not be able to adapt. However, today’s release of these three adult hawksbills is a landmark experiment. Through GPS tracking, we’ll be able to observe their movements, behaviors, and overall adaptability to life in the open ocean. If they thrive, this approach could open doors to releasing more adult turtles and expanding efforts to support this endangered species.
The entire team is hopeful and eager to see where this journey will lead — for the individual turtles and for conservation. You can follow our turtles via this link and find more coverage of the release at https://www.ynet.co.il/environment-science/article/yokra14132256.
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