Rescued sea turtles in Israel released back to the wild

Jul 7, 2022, 4:39 PM | Updated: Jul 12, 2022, 6:46 am

Dr. Yaniv Levy, right, and Guy Ivgy treat a wounded sea turtle at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center, run by the Israel National Nature and Parks Authority, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, in Michmoret, Israel, Thursday, July 7, 2022. Over a dozen sea turtles were released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation at the rescue center in Israel after suffering physical trauma, likely caused by underwater explosives. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

(AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Green and brown sea turtles make their way to the Mediterranean Sea after being released by the Sea Turtle Rescue Center, run by the Israel National Nature and Parks Authority, in Beit Yanai beach, Israel, Friday, July 8, 2022. Over a dozen sea turtles were released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation at the rescue center in Israel after suffering physical trauma, likely caused by underwater explosives. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

People watching a brown sea turtle as he makes his way to the Mediterranean Sea after being released by the Sea Turtle Rescue Center, run by the Israel National Nature and Parks Authority, in Beit Yanai beach, Israel, Friday, July 8, 2022. Over a dozen sea turtles were released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation at the rescue center in Israel after suffering physical trauma, likely caused by underwater explosives. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

A brown sea turtle makes his way to the Mediterranean Sea after being released by the Sea Turtle Rescue Center, run by the Israel National Nature and Parks Authority, in Beit Yanai beach, Israel, Friday, July 8, 2022. Over a dozen sea turtles were released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation at the rescue center in Israel after suffering physical trauma, likely caused by underwater explosives. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

A volunteer cleans a wounded sea turtle at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center, run by the Israel National Nature and Parks Authority, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, in Michmoret, Israel, Thursday, July 7, 2022. Over a dozen sea turtles were released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation at the rescue center in Israel after suffering physical trauma, likely caused by underwater explosives. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Volunteers clean wounded sea turtles at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center, run by the Israel National Nature and Parks Authority, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, in Michmoret, Israel, Thursday, July 7, 2022. Over a dozen sea turtles were released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation at the rescue center in Israel after suffering physical trauma, likely caused by underwater explosives. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

A poster showing sea turtles adorns an office at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center, run by the Israel National Nature and Parks Authority, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, in Michmoret, Israel, Thursday, July 7, 2022. Over a dozen sea turtles were released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation at the rescue center in Israel after suffering physical trauma, likely caused by underwater explosives. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Volunteers clean a wounded sea turtles at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center, run by the Israel National Nature and Parks Authority, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, in Michmoret, Israel, Thursday, July 7, 2022. Over a dozen sea turtles were released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation at the rescue center in Israel after suffering physical trauma, likely caused by underwater explosives. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

A volunteer feeds a wounded sea turtle at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center, run by the Israel National Nature and Parks Authority, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, in Michmoret, Israel, Thursday, July 7, 2022. Over a dozen sea turtles were released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation at the rescue center in Israel after suffering physical trauma, likely caused by underwater explosives. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Volunteers measures the weight of wounded sea turtle at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center, run by the Israel National Nature and Parks Authority, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, in Michmoret, Israel, Thursday, July 7, 2022. Over a dozen sea turtles were released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation at the rescue center in Israel after suffering physical trauma, likely caused by underwater explosives. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Volunteers clean a wounded sea turtle at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center, run by the Israel National Nature and Parks Authority, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, in Michmoret, Israel, Thursday, July 7, 2022. Over a dozen sea turtles were released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation at the rescue center in Israel after suffering physical trauma, likely caused by underwater explosives. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Volunteers feed wounded sea turtles at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center, run by the Israel National Nature and Parks Authority, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, in Michmoret, Israel, Thursday, July 7, 2022. Over a dozen sea turtles were released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation at the rescue center in Israel after suffering physical trauma, likely caused by underwater explosives. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Dr. Yaniv Levy, left, and Guy Ivgy treat a wounded sea turtle at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center, run by the Israel National Nature and Parks Authority, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, in Michmoret, Israel, Thursday, July 7, 2022. Over a dozen sea turtles were released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation at the rescue center in Israel after suffering physical trauma, likely caused by underwater explosives. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

MICHMORET, Israel (AP) — Over a dozen endangered sea turtles that were rescued after suffering major injuries in the Mediterranean scuttled their way over a beach in Israel on Friday after months of medical care.

The 15 loggerhead sea turtles and two green sea turtles were released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center in central Israel. Each had been brought to the facility run by Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority over the winter suffering from various kinds of physical trauma, likely caused by underwater explosives.

The sea turtle species are listed as threatened and endangered, respectively, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and are protected under Israeli law.

The seafaring reptiles received months of intensive care, starting with antibiotics and fluids, at the facility north of Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean coast.

Yaniv Levy, a sea turtle ecologist who manages the center, said that before releasing the turtles, the biologists made certain “that we’re not making any mistake and we’re bringing back the turtle 100% healthy to the to the wild.”

After they were cleaned, measured and weighed, the scientists glued satellite tags to the shells of several individuals so that they can monitor the turtles’ location and continue studying their behavior in the wild.

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