Sea turtle on board of the firmm Spirit

Text: Veronika Freundl, volunteer for firmm; Photos: firmm

21.05.2013. This morning we left the harbour of Tarifa on our boat Spirit and were expecting a smooth trip. The rain had stopped, there was little wind and the water surface was calmer than the days before. The water was glinting and the only wave we crossed was originated from a large cargo ship. Due to the calm swell there were more Moroccan fisher boats around than usually. Right after crossing the first fisher boat a family of pilot whales as well as bottlenose dolphins appeared beside our boat. The animals seemed to be very relaxed, lying on the water surface and enjoying the calm sea. The sperm whale which we saw a bit further west was the same. We were able to watch it breathing and it showed us nicely its fluke when it dived down.

All of a sudden we discovered another animal. A sea turtle was floating at the surface of the water. We watched it. It was lying horizontally at the water surface, but hardly moved. Something seemed to be wrong with it.

  

We decided to check it on plastic or injuries. Pedro,  one of our seamen, caught it with a fishing net and brought it on board. It was a loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta Caretta) with a length of approximately 80cm.

  

The turtle was injured and was bleeding below its mouth. The injury seemed to be fresh and the animal weak. We covered it with wet towels and took it back to Tarifa. We had already informed a vet, who was expecting us in the harbour. The vet examined the turtle and her first diagnosis was that the animal might have broken its lower jaw. It was not clear at this point if a hook or plastic parts might be involved. Grazes at the shell were identified to be older and not a problem for it. The vet took the turtle to Algeciras where it will be examined and nursed back to health. We are confident that the sea turtle will survive and will soon be released back to freedom.