Sea turtle Piecito returns to the sea after a year of recovery

The sea turtle recovered by the Palma Aquarium Foundation returned this Friday, June 6, to its natural habitat on Magaluf Beach, Calvià, after nearly a year of veterinary care. It was accompanied by almost 200 students from the Cas Saboners school in Magaluf.

Piecito is a sea turtle that was rescued in s’Algar (Portocolom) on June 25th, 2024. The turtle was found on the rocks of the cove by two bathers who immediately alerted a Guardia Civil officer in the area. The turtle was alive, with its left front flipper entangled in a raffia sack. The individuals removed the entanglement themselves, which is something that should never be done. The officer called 112, thereby activating the rescue protocol. The turtle was then cared for by the Club Nàutic de Portocolom in a marine turtle holding tank until the stranding team from the Foundation arrived to transfer it to the Recovery Center located at Palma Aquarium (Mallorca), where it received its initial care from La Vileta Veterinary Clinic.

After a year of recovery, this is the 36th turtle rescued out of the 89 attended in 2024. The officer who rescued it named it Piecito (“Little Foot”).

The animal had a superficial wound on its left front flipper and, thanks to X-rays, a fracture in its right front flipper was detected. Additionally, blood tests revealed anemia and infection. At the center, it was treated according to veterinary instructions until, after full recovery, it was cleared by the vets.

This effort is part of the conservation and protection project for threatened marine species, which includes sea turtles, cetaceans, and sharks in the Balearic Islands (OCEMIB). The initiative is supported by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.

Furthermore, the service is managed by COFIB, which is part of the Species Protection Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Environment.

The conservation of sea turtles in the Balearic Sea depends on collaboration among institutions, organizations, and committed citizens. By following proper protocols and adopting responsible practices, a safer future can be ensured for these species and marine biodiversity as a whole.