Riviera Maya, Q.R. — A female sea turtle has been admitted to hospital in Riviera Maya. The young turtle was found beached but alive outside a hotel in the municipality of Tulum.
Hotel staff realized the sea turtle was injured and entangled in plastic. They proceeded to free her from the plastic while they waited for environmental authorities.
According to Itzel Trujano, President of the State Committee for the Protection, Conservation and Management of the Turtle, they were made aware of the finding on Bahía Solimán by hotel staff.
Staff reported finding the sea turtle who was stuck in thick plastic that is used to wrap cardboard boxes. Trjuano said the turtle was taken to the sea turtle hospital in Xcaret where she is being treated by Dr. Ana Negrete.
“Protocol was activated in which the surveillance committee of the municipality of Tulum was notified and then Profepa was notified and we went as members of the committee, in this case, I went.
“The specimen was observed and did require transfer to hospital. Notification was given to Profepa and to the head of the Xcaret Sea Turtle Hospital, veterinarian Ana Negrete, to whom the specimen was delivered and who will monitor its health,” she explained.
She said doctors are treating the turtle for injuries and will continue to monitor her status in hopes she can soon be released back into the sea.
