Environment: Tunisia, ‘Ramzi’ turtle returned to wildlife

(ANSAmed) – TUNIS, JUNE 9 – A 10-year-old marine turtle called ”Ramzi” was released into the sea after being rescued and treated by the National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology (Intsm) and by the association Notre grand bleu back in April.The caretta caretta turtle, who is 63-cm-long and 58-cm-wide, was released off the beach of Kraaya in Monastir, said Olfa Chaieb, a researcher who heads the Tunisian sea turtle rescue center in Monastir. ”Ramzi”, who was named after the coast guard official who saved her in Kerkenneh, was accidentally trapped in a fishing net on April 19, when she was taken at the Intsm in Sfax and subsequently to the Tunisian Sea Turtle Rescue Center. Over 5,000 turtles are fished each year in Gabes due to trawling and trolling, said Imm researcher, Imed Jeribi.”Fortunately, the majority don’t die”, he added. Tunisia has a center for the treatment and rehabilitation of marine turtles which was created in 2004 under the supervision of the ministry of agriculture, fishing and water resources, in collaboration with Instm, Rac/Spa and Apal. The center treats sea turtles that have been wounded and are sick, who were found after they were accidentally taken by fishermen or illegally seized. The objective is to treat them and release them back into the wildlife. The center’s main activities are part of the programs of Instm Marine Biodiversity Laboratory and essentially consist in rescuing sea turtles in difficulty, in protecting the marine environment and endangered species, in participating in the National Beaching Network for Sea Turtles and Cetaceans (www.rne.tn) which represents the focal point of the network in the Sahel region and in the realization of scientific studies on marine turtles. (ANSAmed)
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