Taiwan's Penghu releases 13 sea turtles

台灣澎湖放生13隻海龜

World Sea Turtle Day celebrated with release of sea turtles into the wild


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Penghu County Government released 13 sea turtles near Shili Beach on Sunday (June 16) to mark World Sea Turtle Day.

Penghu County Agriculture and Fisheries Bureau released 12 green sea turtles and one olive ridley sea turtle. Many of the green sea turtles were taken in as hatchlings that were too weak to survive on their own, per CNA.

Of the seven sea turtle species in the world, Penghu has five. Thus, sea turtle conservation in Penghu is vital to the future survival of sea turtles, many of which are facing extinction.

Another turtle released on Sunday was injured in an accident three years ago and was later brought to the Fisheries Research Institute Penghu Sea Turtle Conservation and Rescue Center, where it was nursed back to health. The Olive Ridley sea turtle became the first in Taiwan to have a satellite transmitter attached to its shell, allowing researchers to track it for up to one year.

All 13 sea turtles released into the wild were in normal, healthy condition with a good appetite, and all wounds healed, meeting release standards established by biologists and other experts.

Presiding over the release of sea turtles was an audience of about 100 people, including dignitaries such as Penghu County Government Secretary-General Tsai Chi-hsien (蔡淇賢), Penghu County Council Speaker Chen Yu-ren(陳毓仁), along with teachers and students from Shanshui Elementary School.

Penghu County’s Agriculture and Fisheries Bureau said on May 23 that two green sea turtles came ashore for the first time to lay eggs at the Wang-an Island Green Turtle Nesting Refuge. This location is thought to be the only stable area for sea turtle egg-laying left in Taiwan.

Local officials hope the successful release of the sea turtles signifies advancements made by the county government to balance the interests of tourism and local ecology. In the future, even more efforts will be made to ensure sea turtles will have a habitat to breed and flourish.