Rescued Loggerhead Sea Turtle Sela Returns to the Sea After Rehabilitation
Loggerhead sea turtle Sela was released back into the Mediterranean at Beit Yanai beach after four months of rehabilitation from fishing net injuries and successful surgery in Rehovot.
A loggerhead sea turtle named Sela was successfully released back into the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday at the Beit Yanai National Park beach, following a four-month rehabilitation process. The turtle had been rescued near Caesarea entangled in a fishing net with two hooks embedded in its body, and underwent complex surgery and a long recovery period.
Sela's rescue began when kayakers from the Optimist club spotted the large turtle, which then weighed 49 kilograms, tangled in fishing gear off the coast of Caesarea. The kayakers immediately alerted the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, prompting a team from the EcoOcean association aboard a research vessel to assist in the rescue operation.
Following a joint effort involving a swimmer who kept the turtle safe in the water, the team brought Sela ashore in cooperation with researchers from the University of Haifa and the National Sea Turtle Rescue Center. Medical examinations revealed an injury to the right front flipper and X-rays confirmed the presence of two fishing hooks inside its body.
Dr. Tzachi Eisenberg from the Kol Chai clinic in Rehovot successfully performed surgery to remove both hooks. After four months of rehabilitation and care, Sela gained weight, reaching 64 kilograms compared to 49 kilograms at the time of rescue. Around 100 students and citizens gathered at Beit Yanai beach to witness the emotional return of the sea turtle to its natural habitat.
