Turtle 'Verdín' Returns to Sea After Year of Rehabilitation for Head Injury

After a year of dedicated care, a 135-kilogram white turtle known as "Verdín" has returned to the ocean. The turtle was found on the beach in Celestún last July with a severe head fracture, prompting its transfer to the Center for Marine Turtle Rescue and Research in the Yucatán Peninsula. The successful rehabilitation highlights a significant community effort.

Biologist Carlos León Alemán emphasized that the collective support was crucial for "Verdín's" recovery. Donations, particularly from the foreign community, provided essential medical supplies such as gloves, bandages, and medications. Costs for X-rays and blood tests, vital for ensuring the turtle's health, were also covered through these contributions. This collaborative approach underscores the importance of local and international support in wildlife conservation.

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The community of foreigners made us donations in kind because many healing materials are used, such as gloves, bandages, medications. The X-rays and blood tests that are necessary to verify that she is in good health were paid for.

Maribel Escobedo Mondragón, director of the Center, noted that since the program's inception in 2020, around 30 turtles have been released after receiving treatment for injuries. Despite successes, she lamented instances where turtles were confiscated, attacked by feral animals, or stranded due to illness. The ongoing commitment to these animals was further affirmed by Neyra Silva Rosado, head of the Secretariat of Sustainable Development, who stated that each release signifies a renewed chance at life and reinforces the dedication of institutions, specialists, and volunteers to protecting marine turtles along Yucatán's coast.

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Seeing that turtle return to the sea, truly fills us with great pride and makes us see that we are working for exactly what we want: for a better future for our Yucatán, for our young people, who today can feel proud.