Loggerhead turtles, Alison and Mnqa today literally rode the waves at Hondoq Bay in Gozo today, when they were released in a somewhat choppy sea, by Nature Trust Malta.

One of the turtles is fitted with a tracker to monitor their journey throughout the coming months, which can be followed on the NTM facebook page.

A number of school students involved in the YRE – Young Reporters for the Environment and Eco-Schools were present to witness the release.

Alison, a 12 year-old loggerhead turtle was very weak and undernourished when rescued off St Paul’s Bay because of a hook in its stomach over 18 months ago,

Menqa was rescued from Marsalforn, where it was found entangled in marine debris and with an ingested hook at the beginning of last summer.The turtles were cared for by Nature Trust – FEE Malta and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Team, and were nursed back to health under the medical observation of veterinary surgeon Dr Anthony Gruppetta.

Alison, weighing in at around 18 kgs has been fitted with a satellite tracker kindly sponsored by AKTH, an NGO from Cyprus which is running a Zero Waste Beach Campaign, supported by GSD, so that its journeys could be tracked also for research purposes.

The two turtles were released in the presence of 55 students who either collected money to sponsor turtles in rehabilitation or are presently participating in the Young Reporters for the Environment – Litter Less campaign.

Minister for Gozo, Dr Justyne Caruana and Qala Mayor, Mr Paul Buttigieg, were also present for the occasion.

Prior to the release, students carried out a clean-up of the beach were they also logged information on the prepared data sheets to investigate the various waste streams that end up on our beaches.Nature Trust FEE Malta gave thanks to AKTH, GSD and the Ministry for Gozo for the financial support together with the Armed Forces of Malta, the Malta Aquaculture Research Centre, the MTA, Eco-Gozo, Qala Local Council, ERA, Dr A. Grupetta, fishermen, NTM staff and volunteers, schools and members of the public for their ongoing support.

Nature Trust – FEE Malta said that it would like to remind the general public that anyone who spots or comes into contact with an injured turtle can call on 99422085/ 99422086. This emergency service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

YRE (www.yremalta.org) is a programme designed specifically for students. The main aim is to carry out investigations on local environmental issues and report through investigative reporting and photojournalism. The goal of YRE is to engage youth in environmental issues.

The Litter Less Campaign (http://www.yre.global/litter-less-campaign) is a joint initiative of the Wrigley Company Foundation and FEE and is implemented in schools running the Eco-Schools, LEAF and/or YRE programmes.

The Campaign aims to engage and educate young people on the issue of litter and encourage them to make positive choices.

Photographs by Nature Trust Malta

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