On 5^th July, FSL-India’s Kundapura staff received a call from Beejadi Beach: another injured turtle was found by the local fishermen on the beach. The turtle probably got entangled in the fishermen’s net and came to the beach because of the deep wounds on its neck and flippers.

A huge group of people cooperated to rescue the marine creature: local people and FSL-India staff and volunteers, along with members of the ‘Clean Kundapura Project’, an active initiative for cleaning up along the Kundapura beaches. We placed the turtle in a safe and suitable tub with water and ensured the right treatment for its injuries, with the support of the veterinary doctor.

We, FSL-India’s long term volunteers could sustain the people in the rescue mission; we helped in the medication of the wounds and we could assist during the veterinary doctor’s visit, where an antibiotic was administered to avoid possible infections.

We volunteers felt so useful and so proud of the people’s motivation. Turtles are very important for the marine ecosystem. Indeed, this species is peaceful and harmless and its main diet of jellyfish ensures the equilibrium in our ocean. Moreover, due to the turtle’s migration, this species can also carry on their shells some seaweed or small animals, encouraging the formation of new colonies.

We, all together, along with the Forest Department officials, released the turtle into the ocean in occasion of the Sunday’s beach cleaning at Beejadi Beach. Everybody felt so happy while admiring the turtle swimming through the waves into the ocean.