On July 5, 2022, two CCAfa of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation(CBCGDF) in Tangshan, Hebei Province released five green sea turtles that had been rescued successfully after actively communicating with local government departments. Zhou Jinfeng, Secretary-Genera of CBCGDF said:“This is the fastest action and the best response from Chinese people after the closing of the United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal. This is a specific case of studying Adhering to the Harmonious Coexistence of Man and Nature.”

Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), also known as green turtle, black (sea) turtle or Pacific green turtle, is a large sea turtle species in the family Sea Turtles. Named for their body fat rich in chlorophyll from seagrass, they are found in tropical and subtropical oceans all over the world. All species of the Turtle family to which green sea turtles belong have been included in Appendix I of the CITES, and international trade is prohibited. Green turtles are also listed as endangered on the IUCN Redlist. The green sea turtle is also a national first-class protected animal listed in China's "List of National Key Protected Wild Animals". It is the only one among the seven existing sea turtle species in the world that has a record of laying eggs in my country's waters..Mature individuals of this species can live up to 90 years in the wild.

A total of 5 green turtles were released, and their names were: Dajing, Er’ye, Sancao, Sitian, and Xiaohui. They were originally seized by the local Kaiping Public Security Bureau during a law enforcement inspection in 2021. It was originally sheltered by the Tangshan Wildlife Rescue Station. In November 2021, due to the limited conditions of the shelter and rescue station, it was transferred to the Tangshan Caofeidian Huitong Aquatic Technology Co., Ltd., where the CBCGDF CCAFa is located, and received treatment with the help of professional capabilities and excellent shelter conditions. Tian Zhiwei, director of the CBCGDF CCAFa, said, "Because they are all alive and not small in size, when they were first sent to the Tangshan Wildlife Rescue Center, they suffered some minor injuries and needed immediate help.To save green turtles, There must be habitats such as seawater, so they were transferred to the two CCAFas of the CBCGDF close to the Bohai Bay."

After more than half a year of shelter and treatment, the green sea turtles have reached the conditions for release. After discussions with Tangshan Wildlife Rescue Station, Tangshan Daqinghe Salt Field Wildlife Rescue Station, Caofeidian Agricultural Development Group and Tangshan Caofeidian Huitong Aquatic Technology Co., Ltd., the decision was made. On July 5th, relevant ships and personnel were organized to release the green turtles, allowing them to return to nature and conserving the diversity of wild animals.

Zhou Jinfeng and CBCGDF researchers went to Tangshan early in the morning on July 5 to participate in the release of green sea turtles. At noon, the five turtles returned to the sea.

It is reported that mature sea turtles spend most of their time in shallow coastal waters with lush seagrass beds. The survival of sea turtle species is at risk due to human activity. In some countries, turtles and their eggs are still hunted for food. Pollution also frequently and indirectly harms sea. Many turtles die after being caught in fishing nets. In addition, real estate development often causes sea turtles to lose their spawning grounds and drastically reduce their populations by occupying tidal flats, depriving sea turtles of nesting beaches (habitat loss).

Original Chinese Article:https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/AJgNxvOcUA9C0Fwd0_Txmw

Translator: Daisy

Checked by Lucy

Editor: YJ

Contact the editors: v10@cbcgdf.org;  +8617319454776

Contribution

Do you know? CBCGDF is a non-profit organization. We rely on crowd-funding and

donations. You have the opportunity to help us to advance biodiversity conservation.

Donate TODAY to power up the movement to make it a better world for all life.

https://www.paypal.me/CBCGDFChina 

http://www.cbcgdf.org/English/ConfirmDonaTion/0.html