On Tuesday morning a turtle that was rescued by Prof. Adriana Vella, conservation biologist, during an ongoing Sea Marvel research project has been released after rehabilitation by Nature Trust. The turtle was named ‘Freedom’ by its rescuer who explained that some of the main causes of turtle death are increased vessel traffic and its speed as well as pollution and fishing gear.
As ‘Freedom’ made her way to the sea one hopes she will not pass through the horrible experience she had before being rescued. Many other species die without being found in time. Conservation research is contributing to finding ways of improving the survival of wild species. The Conservation Biology Research Group at the University of Malta has been contributing to such valuable work for over 25 years.
One of the projects currently underway is the Sea Marvel Project, which aims to combat the risks to marine ecosystems and biodiversity by human impacts. Cetaceans and turtles are some of the species being monitored by the project. Such conservation awareness and monitoring has been assisted by the NGO BICREF (Biological Conservation Research Foundation).
Acknowledgments
- Mr Isaak Koroma, who took this video, is an MSc student under Prof Adriana Vella's supervision specialising on Loggerhead turtle ecology and conservation.
- Mr Yacopo Baldacchino, SEA MARVEL team member, took the photos.
