MEDASSET Weblog

The message said: "those turtles will not be able to live much longer, we really think speed is essential". We immediately contacted the Regional Activity Centre for Special Protected Areas (RAC/SPA) of the UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) in Tunisia, the Association for the Protection of Nature and the Environment (APNE) in Kairouan, the Agency for the Protection and Coastal Zone Management of Tunisia (APAL), the National Agency for the Protection of Environment at the Ministry of the Environment and the National Scientific and Technical Marine Institute (INSTAM) of Tunisia.

A reply by return from APAL and RAC/SPA (UNEP/MAP) informed us that arrangements had been made for the turtles to be transferred to a sea turtle rehabilitation centre at Monastir run by INSTAM and APAL.

Just 9 days after receipt of the urgent message from the UK family, we were informed that one of the sea turtles (19 kg) had been released into the sea and the other one (4,6 kg) was due for release very soon.

This fine example of cooperative effort highlights the importance of awareness and action by the general public, offers a glimpse of hope for effective, cooperative action between NGOs, governmental and intergovernmental organizations and shows a change in attitude of Mediterranean authorities towards sea turtle conservation: Well done Tunisia!