- The turtle, recovered by the Fundación Palma Aquarium and named Piecito, has returned to the sea
- A group of schoolchildren participated in the event organised by Calvià Town Hall and Fundación Palma Aquarium
- The chosen location, Magaluf, is ideal due to the quality of its waters
Piecito has returned to the sea. The sea turtle recovered by the Palma Aquarium Foundation returned to its natural environment on Magaluf beach, Calvià, this Friday after almost a year of veterinary care. It was accompanied by almost 200 students from Cas Saboners school in Magaluf.
Piecito’s story
Piecito is a sea turtle that was rescued in s’Algar (Portocolom) on 25th June 2024. The turtle was found on the cove's rocks by two bathers who immediately notified a Civil Guard who was in the area. The turtle was found alive with its left front flipper entangled in a raffia sack. Private individuals removed the entanglement, something that should never be done. The officer called 112, thus activating the rescue protocol. Thanks to our collaboration with the Club Nàutic de Portocolom, the turtle was kept there in a sea turtle depot until the Foundation's stranding team arrived to transfer it to the Recovery Centre located at Palma Aquarium (Mallorca), where it received initial care from the 'Clínica Veterinaria La Vileta' veterinary clinic.
After a year of recovery, this turtle is the 36th rescued turtle of the 89 treated in 2024. The officer who rescued it named it Piecito. The animal had a superficial wound on its left front flipper and, thanks to the X-rays taken, a fracture on its right front flipper. Furthermore, its blood tests revealed anaemia and infection. At the centre, it received the treatments prescribed by veterinarians until it was fully discharged due to its complete recovery.
OCEMIB project
This action is carried out within the framework of the project for the conservation and protection of endangered marine species, which includes sea turtles, cetaceans, and sharks, in the Balearic Islands (OCEMIB). The initiative is supported by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PRTR), financed by the European Union - NextGenerationEU.
In addition, the service is managed by the COFIB, which is part of the Species Protection Service of the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment.
The conservation of sea turtles in the Balearic Sea depends on the collaboration between institutions, organizations, and committed citizens. By following appropriate protocols and adopting responsible practices, we can ensure a safer future for these species and for marine biodiversity as a whole.
