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[CULTURE] · Spain, United Arab Emirates · 3 sources

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Part of situation: Sea turtle rehabilitation and release efforts (2 clusters)

Sea turtle rehabilitation programs release dozens of turtles in Spain and UAE

sea turtle release marine wildlife rehabilitation loggerhead turtles Hawksbill turtles biodiversity conservation

Marine wildlife specialists in Spain and the United Arab Emirates are conducting significant sea turtle release programs to support endangered species.

In Benidorm, Spain, seven loggerhead turtles are being released into the Mediterranean at Poniente beach. The turtles were originally hatched on Levante beach in August 2025 and were taken to l’Oceanogràfic aquarium in Valencia for specialist care. After a year of monitoring, experts determined they had reached sufficient size and strength for survival in the wild. The release includes local schoolchildren to promote marine biodiversity education.

In Abu Dhabi, the National Aquarium (TNA) and the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) released 43 rehabilitated sea turtles into the Arabian Gulf at Saadiyat Beach. The group included 10 Hawksbill hatchlings and 28 Green Sea Turtles, along with several sub-adult and adult Hawksbills. This event marks six years of the Wildlife Rescue Programme, which has successfully rehabilitated and released more than 1,800 sea turtles to date.

Entities

Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi

Sources

Seven baby turtles return to Benidorm beach [euroweeklynews.com]
In Florida, six rehabbed sea turtles and a pelican returned to the wild, though one washed back ashore [www.thecooldown.com]
43 rehabilitated sea turtles return to the sea in Abu Dhabi [gulfnews.com]