Nine loggerhead turtles, that have been in rehabilitation for the last months, were released earlier today in the presence of students from the Ekoskola Programme whose schools have won the International Green Flag and the International Young Reporters for the Environment International award. Both programmes are run in Malta by Nature Trust (Malta) as national representatives for the International organisation Foundation for Environmental Education.

These turtles have been rescued in the past months by members of the Nature Trust (Malta) Rescue team. NTM would also like to thank other environmental NGOs that have helped in the rescue of such marine reptiles in the last months, such as Birdlife Malta, BICREF and International Animal Rescue. Thanks also go to Mepa for their cooperation in such Rescues.

Turtles are legally protected in the Maltese waters by Mepa as the competent authority. Injured turtles are often found either with hooks and nylon lines after they swallow these because of the bait, with plastic bags after the swallow these thinking they are jelly fish or with propeller injuries from boats.

Once rescued, these turtles are medicated at the San Lucjan Centre – Fisheries Department at Marsaxlokk. Staff from San Lucjan Center, together with volunteers and staff of Nature Trust, take care, medicate and clean these turtles to rehabilitate them back to be release in the wild.

These nine turtles have now been released as they have fully recovered from all their injuries. The schools present for this event were Ekoskola Green Flag winners: Kullegg San Benedittu Zurrieq Primary C, St Joseph Paola, St Joseph Blata l-Bajda, Kullegg Santa Klara San Gwann Primary B, Kullegg San Injazju Siggiewi Primary C, Xaghra Primary C Gozo.

Young Reporters for the Environment International winners: Lilly of the Valley Mosta and G Despott of NTM would like to thank the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs and the San Lucjan centre, especially Dr Grupetta and Charles Sammut, for their work and support in turtle rehabilitation, Mepa for their cooperation and the Ministry for Education, HSBC Bank Malta and Wasterserv for their never ending support in the FEE programmes.

Nature Trust appeals to the public to report any injured turtles, sighted out at sea, so as immediate action can be taken to save these creatures that have been with us for over 200 Million years. Nature Trust is presently collecting funds to set up a wild rehabilitation centre at Xrobb L-Ghagin.

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