SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 9th March (EUROPA PRESS) –
Queen Sofia paid a visit to the ‘La Tahonilla’ Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre on Saturday, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Tenerife Island Council.
This centre takes in injured animals brought in by members of the public, various public organisations including the police, as well as collaborating entities like diving clubs, sports harbours, and fishermen’s associations.
According to the Royal Household, Her Majesty was warmly welcomed by the President of the Canary Islands Parliament, Astrid Pérez; the Government’s delegate in the Canary Islands, Anselmo Pestana; the President of the Island Council, Rosa Dávila; and the head of the Canary Islands Command, Julio Salom.
During her visit, Queen Sofia was given a brief overview of the centre’s operations by Pedro Manuel Millán, the Environment Director of the Tenerife Island Council. Subsequently, a video on turtles and their environmental challenges was screened.
The tour of the facilities commenced, showcasing the recovery rooms, food preparation area, and operating theatre. Outside, the queen observed the turtle rehabilitation section and the nursery.
The ‘La Tahonilla’ Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is tasked with receiving, caring for, and reintroducing injured wildlife discovered on the island.
It treats approximately 1,500 animal patients annually, in addition to around 2,000 animals tended to and rehabilitated during the Cory’s shearwater season.
Moreover, the centre runs a plant nursery that produces flora for ecological restoration and the recovery of the thermophilic forest. It also offers the public the opportunity to acquire Canarian plants, producing about 30,000 plants annually of 50 different species.
MOVE TO LAS TERESITAS
Following her visit to the centre, Her Majesty proceeded to Las Teresitas beach, where she joined several young individuals from the Asperger’s Association of the Canary Islands (ASPERCAN) for the release of two turtles, Lemon and Elma, rehabilitated by ‘La Tahonilla’.
For this occasion, the dive team from the Terramare Association assisted with underwater cleaning tasks.
Queen Sofia took the opportunity to greet the personnel from the Insular Office of Environmental Participation and Volunteering of the Tenerife Island Council – marking its twentieth anniversary – responsible for organising environmental education activities, as well as members of the Sustainable Santa Cruz Foundation.
