He La Tahonilla Wildlife Recovery Centermanaged by the Cabildo de Tenerife, receives an average of one hundred specimens of different species of wild, non-domestic turtles each year. They are usually found in the Tenerife geography, injured or with some problem, both for citizens individuals as well as public bodies. Among these, the police forces stand out, as well as other collaborating entities, such as diving clubs, sports docks and fishermen’s associations. The latest examples, last March, were two turtles returned to the sea on La Nea beach, in El Rosario, after entering with different pathologies. During the past year, La Tahonilla received 107 specimens during 2022, 104 belonging to the Caretta caretta species and three to the green turtle (Chelonia mydas).
Recovered animals are cared for and fed until they reach the point where they are capable of swimming and hunting autonomously. At that time they are ready to be released back into the Atlantic. Approximately they spend about three weeks on average in the center.
The first Caretta caretta was located on March 7, while swimming several miles from Puerto Colón, in Costa Adeje. The animal was in trouble and with obvious symptoms of exhaustion. In addition, it showed the visible presence of fungi on the shell. This turtle was recovered by a group of individuals and handed over to the Adeje Local Police for later transfer to La Tahonilla.
In the first assessment it was determined that The fungus not only affected the shell, but also to the flippers and plastron of the turtle. During her recovery period, she was administered topical and oral antifungals. Likewise, he received a specific therapy based on laser sessions and ultraviolet rays to complete the treatment. Finally, when the disease was overcome for two weeks, the turtle was returned to the sea to continue its evolutionary process.
The other turtle was located on March 11 near the coast of Los Gigantes, in Santiago del Teide. The animal was caught in a fishing net by its right front flipper. After being rescued, the Center received the animal to begin its recovery and rehabilitation process.
After the first inspection it was determined that the tangled fin had to be amputated due to the clear symptoms of necrosis and the risk that the disease would spread to the rest of the body. Therefore, the fin was amputated and then its recovery process began. After approximately three weeks, the turtle passed the rehabilitation and recovery period and was returned to the sea to continue its proper development.
A model center
The Fauna Recovery Center occupies two hectares of the 26 of the La Tahonilla farm, where the Cabildo also has the headquarters of one of the island nurseries and also of the extinction and control teams fires forestry of the Island. It constitutes an important tool for the wildlife conservation and environmental education on island biodiversity. A 12-hour service is active at the facilities, 365 days a day. Some 1,500 animals are collected there every year, plus 2,500 shearwaters in the campaign to take off the flight of this threatened species.
The Cabildo de Tenerife launched in April last year some new facilities dedicated specifically to the rehabilitation of sea turtles recovered in the waters of the Island that, after the necessary clinical attention, are returned to their habitat. Several large saltwater tanks and a counter current swimming channel were added which is used for the re-adaptation of the turtles before returning them to the sea. Its natural habitat.
Loggerhead turtle, but not that much
The Caretta caretta turtle is a species of marine reptile that receives the nickname of loggerhead for the ease with which, in the past, fishermen caught it while it was near the surface. But it’s not that stupid. On the contrary, it is a migratory animal with great orientation. Its presence is concentrated in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, especially in temperate seas. In Canary Islands It is the sea turtle with the highest sighting rates. Their stay in the waters of the Archipelago lasts practically throughout the year, especially during the spring-summer months. Its diet is mainly carnivorous and it is the natural predator of jellyfish. It is common for the turtles themselves to confuse them with plastic bags and ingest large quantities.
