Salina the loggerhead turtle completes 9,000-km odyssey after rescue
Salina the loggerhead turtle completes 9,000-km odyssey after rescue
Salina the loggerhead turtle completes 9,000-km odyssey after rescue
Salina, the Sea Turtle That Swam Over 9,000 Kilometers After Rehabilitation at Zoomarine
A loggerhead sea turtle rescued from fishing nets in the Guadiana River traveled more than 9,000 kilometers after being released back into the ocean by Zoomarine in 2022. The epic journey, tracked by satellite for a year by biologists, revealed key feeding grounds and possibly even the turtle's birthplace.
December 14, 2025
"We wanted to take this opportunity to study how this animal would behave after being returned to the sea and to use the transmitter to gain insight into the actual survival rate of these animals post-rehabilitation," explained Yohann Santos, a biologist at Zoomarine's Rescue Center.
No one expected the batteries to last so long. For 392 days, the young loggerhead turtle covered 9,203 kilometers—a journey recorded by satellite that began with a dive 20 miles off Faro in July 2022, immediately revealing her destination.
At the time of release, she weighed 52 kilograms after being rehabilitated at Zoomarine's Rescue Center.
She had been found in the summer of 2021, trapped in fishing nets inside the Guadiana River. Anemic and with a fishhook in her stomach, she required a full year of care before recovery.
Her return to the wild provided valuable clues, now part of an international study, particularly regarding the species' feeding areas.
Her route took her along the Algerian coast, across the Balearic Islands, around Sardinia, and finally to the waters between Sicily and Calabria.
While genetic analysis could not confirm whether she was returning home, the data offered critical insights for scientists studying the migratory patterns of marine turtles, aiding efforts to better protect them from the threats they face.
Over the past decade, 36 sea turtles have arrived at Zoomarine's Rescue Center in search of a second chance. Soon, expanded facilities and improved conditions will help ensure even greater success in their rehabilitation.