CRAM Foundation Releases 28 Sea Turtles in the Ebro Delta

Volunteers from the CRAM Foundation have released 28 today sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the Ebro Delta. The turtles, born last summer in the area's nests, were temporarily raised in captivity as part of the 'Head-Starting' program to ensure their survival.

The 'Head-Starting' program involves raising sea turtles in captivity until they reach an optimal weight and size, significantly increasing their chances of survival. It is estimated that only 1 in 1,000 sea turtles reaches adulthood under natural conditions.

The turtles released today weigh between 850 and 1,650 grams. Two turtles will remain in the program as they have not yet met the optimal conditions for reintroduction.

All turtles have been tagged with a microchip that will allow their identification if recovered or, in the case of females, if they return to the original beach to nest. The microchips will also support scientific research, including genetic and genomic studies, as well as a study of offspring diversification among different recovery centers.