TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Two rehabilitated olive ridley sea turtles were released back into the ocean at Houwan Beach in Pingtung on Thursday after recovering from injuries caused by fishing gear entanglement.
One of the turtles was found injured in Kaohsiung’s Zihguan District in January after becoming entangled in fishing nets. The other was discovered stranded in Penghu, where its right forelimb had been amputated due to necrosis caused by entanglement in discarded fishing gear, requiring a full year of treatment and rehabilitation.
The release was organized by the Ocean Conservation Administration and the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium. Onlookers gathered at the beach and cheered as the turtles slowly made their way across the beach and back into the sea, per CNA.
Ocean Conservation Administration Director-General Lu Hsiao-yun (陸曉筠) said marine animal rescue requires not only speed but also professionalism. To enhance coordination and response, authorities established a Marine Animal Rescue Network hotline (118) and standardized protocols, including cross-agency cooperation.
Lu said conservation efforts have benefited from collaboration with Xpark Aquarium and Formosa Plastics Group, which helped develop Taiwan’s first rescue containers. She described the initiative as an innovative example of cooperation between government, industry, and private organizations.
According to the Coast Guard, since the hotline was established, authorities have assisted 28 cetaceans and 154 sea turtles return to the ocean. The program has also fitted 22 sea turtles with satellite transmitters to track their movements.
