A group of endangered turtles was released into the ocean today after being rehabilitated by marine biologists at Sharjah Aquarium.
The five adult and juvenile hawksbill turtles were reintroduced into the wild at the Natural Reserve at Al Hamriya Beach in Sharjah. The release of the turtles coincided with World Turtle Day and is part of Sharjah Museum Department’s “Because We Care” social responsibility initiative.
Despite international conventions prohibiting the hunting and trading of sea turtles, the number of hawksbills is down by 80 per cent globally in just three generations due to coastal development, climate change, egg harvesting at nesting beaches, pollution, and being caught accidentally in fisheries. Many are injured by fishing boat propellers.
The turtles released today were originally spotted by members of the public, who noticed they were suffering from critical injuries and took them to Sharjah Aquarium. The Aquarium has been running a rehabilitation programme for the past six years to rescue and care for sick and injured hawksbill and green turtles, and release them back into the wild.