Analysis of the Protocols for Action Against Strandings of Sea Turtles and Their Evolution in Rehabilitation on Tenerife Island (Canary Islands, Spain)

  1. López Vega, Beatriz 1
  2. Hurtado-Pampín, Claudia 1
  3. de la Cruz-Modino, Raquel 2
  1. 1 Departamento de Biología Animal, Edafología y Geología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38280 Tenerife, Spain
  2. 2 Instituto Universitario de Investigación Social y Turismo, Universidad de La Laguna, 38205 Tenerife, Spain
Journal:
Ecologies

ISSN: 2673-4133

Year of publication: 2025

Volume: 6

Issue: 1

Pages: 9

Type: Article

DOI: 10.3390/ECOLOGIES6010009 GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Ecologies

Abstract

Numerous interactions between human activities and wildlife currently impact various species. In recent decades, these activities have contributed to declining sea turtle populations. The waters around Spain serve as important staging areas for sea turtles, particularly Caretta caretta, which spend part of their life cycle there. However, these same waters threaten turtles because of various causes of stranding. This study aims to comprehensively understand the rehabilitation process for these animals at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (WRC) La Tahonilla in Tenerife, Canary Islands. It also seeks to explore rehabilitation efforts at different centers focused on recovering sea turtles in both the mainland and the Canary Islands. Additionally, we have examined the procedures for addressing stranded sea turtles where a recovery center does not exist. Our findings reveal the existence of varying protocols among different centers in Spain’s mainland and islands. Improving and unifying these protocols is essential for enhancing the rehabilitation of sea turtles in Spain.

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