Meritta Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center Marks Eighth Anniversary

The Meritta Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center, established in 2018 with the support of the Merit International hotel chain, marked its eighth anniversary with a series of environmental events.

The main event of the celebration was the V International Seminar dedicated to the rescue, treatment and rehabilitation of sea turtles. Over three days, specialists from Northern Cyprus, Turkey and Italy discussed modern treatment methods, exchanged scientific experience and examined issues related to the conservation of sea turtle populations.

Biologists, veterinarians, representatives of environmental organizations and scientists took part in the seminar. The main topics included the rescue of injured animals, modern diagnostic and treatment methods, satellite monitoring, data standardization and international cooperation in the field of marine ecosystem protection.

The program concluded with the release of four fully recovered turtles into the sea. On the coast near the Merit Royal and Merit Crystal Cove hotels, green sea turtles Efe, Murat Altunuşik, Sunny and a male loggerhead named Nora returned to their natural habitat.

Since the center opened, specialists have treated 249 sea turtles. Of these, 212 were successfully returned to the sea after rehabilitation.

The center director, biologist Silem Sargyn Kara, noted that over eight years Meritta has become not only a treatment center for sea turtles, but also a platform for scientific research, international cooperation and environmental education. According to her, work to protect sea turtles and preserve the marine ecosystem will continue.