SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 6 Aug (EUROPA PRESS) – Civil Guard officers have rescued a Loggerhead turtle found lifeless with hooks lodged in its mouth in the coastal area of Rojas, in the municipality of El Sauzal, in Tenerife, as reported by the Armed Institute.
The rescue operation was conducted by officers from Seprona and the Fiscal and Border Patrol of the Puerto de la Cruz Company, as part of the ongoing efforts by the Civil Guard to safeguard protected natural areas and the marine environment.
A local resident alerted the Civil Guard after spotting a potentially injured turtle on the coast of El Sauzal. Upon receiving the report, the agents promptly responded to the precise location.
Upon extracting the turtle from the sea, it became evident that the animal was not breathing and had multiple hooks embedded in its mouth, potentially leading to its demise.
Following regulations, the prescribed protocol for encountering a protected species was activated due to it being a Loggerhead turtle (Caretta Caretta), classified as an endangered species.
Subsequently, the lifeless body of the turtle was transported by Civil Guard officers to the Wildlife Recovery Centre (CRFS) ‘La Tahonilla’, managed by the Cabildo, to determine the possible cause of death.
