photo SIPSI
PROGRESO, YUCATÁN – A 120-kilogram green sea turtle named “Verdín” has successfully returned to the ocean after a year of intense rehabilitation, marking a major triumph for local conservationists and international volunteers.
The adult turtle (Chelonia mydas) was released on Wednesday, June 24, at the beaches of the Center for Marine Technological Studies (Cetmar) No. 17 in the port city of Progreso. A crowd of local residents, students, and volunteers gathered to witness the emotional send-off.
Verdín’s journey to recovery began in July last year when she washed ashore in Celestún with a severe skull and jaw fracture, likely caused by a boat strike. Dr. Maribel Escobedo Mondragón, director of the Sea Turtle Rescue and Research Center in the Yucatán Peninsula, noted that the wound was heavily infected and covered in algae when the turtle was rescued, indicating she had suffered at sea for days.
The turtle underwent a rigorous treatment plan that included three surgeries, stabilization therapy, pain management, and extensive antibiotics. Because of her fractured jaw, Verdín initially could not eat on her own, but she eventually made a full recovery.
Biologist Carlos León Alemán emphasized that the rescue was a true community effort. Essential supplies, medication, X-rays, and blood tests were funded largely through donations from the local American and Canadian expatriate communities.
Since 2020, the rescue center has successfully rehabilitated and released around 30 sea turtles, overcoming threats ranging from boat collisions and feral animal attacks to severe illnesses.
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