Five turtles released this year with 15 currently undergoing rehabilitation at Xrobb l-Għagin.

Today the successful rehabilitation of two injured turtles at the Wildlife Rehab Centre was celebrated with the release of the marine animals at Golden Bay.

Minister for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness, Miriam Dalli, was present for the release together with officials from the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) and Nature Trust Malta.

“It is a delight to witness the results of the ongoing conservation efforts at the Wildlife Rehab Centre, a collaborative initiative between our environmental regulator, the Environment and Resources Authority, as well as Ambjent Malta and Nature Trust Malta,” Minister Dalli said.

“ERA retains a key role in ensuring the necessary legal protection for these marine creatures and to educate the public to care for their nests on our public beaches.”

Malta’s turtle nesting season is in full swing this summer, with four nests discovered so far. The first was at Ġnejna Bay, on Monday, 9 June. Since then, an additional nest at Għadira and two nests at Ramla Bay have been found.

Weighing in at 70kg, the release back into the sea of ‘Polly Ċensa’, as one of the turtles was named, followed a long, yet successful treatment at the Wildlife Rehab Centre after suffering the ingestion of a fishing line and hook back in August 2022. The other turtle, ‘Duka’, was found in December 2024, unable to swim due to an entanglement around both front flippers. A speedier recovery was possible since the cuts from the injuries were not too deep.

This year, five turtles have been released back into the sea so far. The Wildlife Rehab Centre continues to be a vital resource for the rehabilitation of injured marine wildlife. Thanks to Nature Trust Malta and Ambjent Malta, fifteen turtles are currently being cared for at this facility.

As more nesting episodes are expected this season, the public is urged to immediately report any sightings of turtle activity to ERA (2292 3500) or Nature Trust (9999 9505).

Turtles should not be approached or disturbed during the nesting process: disturbing or destroying turtle nests or eggs is a criminal offense, punishable by a fine ranging from €500 to €2,400 per egg.

When nests are discovered, ERA immediately cordons off the area with the assistance of Nature Trust, to ensure the site is protected.

An emergency conservation order is then issued: this legal measure ensures the nesting sites are protected from any potential disturbance or harm, and is necessary to create a safe environment for the turtles, especially during the critical nesting and hatching periods.

Loggerhead turtles are a long-living, slowly maturing species that are classified as globally endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

GET INVOLVED

Members of the public who wish to lend helping hand may also volunteer with Nature Trust to watch over the current nests with 24/7 surveillance. Contact Nature Trust via email on: [email protected] for nests in Malta and [email protected] for nests in Gozo.

The public is urged to immediately report upon any sightings of turtle activity to ERA (2292 3500) or Nature Trust (9999 9505).

30 June 2025