The Sea Turtle Rescue Center at the Ashtoum El Gamil Reserve in Port Said Governorate, in cooperation with the Environmental Affairs Agency in Alexandria, has successfully carried out a delicate environmental operation by releasing a loggerhead sea turtle into the Mediterranean Sea. The release was conducted after confirming the turtle’s stable health and readiness to return to its natural habitat. This marks the second such operation after a similar rescue last February.

The turtle, known as Taito, is a rare and endangered marine species. It was received from the Turtle Rescue Center in Greece, where it underwent an extended period of treatment and rehabilitation following a serious head injury caused by an unknown incident at sea.
Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Egypt’s Minister of Environment, stated that this environmental operation reaffirms Egypt's commitment to protecting endangered species and implementing international biodiversity cooperation agreements. The turtle was tagged with an international identification code (L4727 - L4728), as part of a global marine turtle tracking system, in coordination with the relevant Greek authorities, to monitor its movements and evaluate rehabilitation effectiveness.

She added that the turtle is female and estimated to be under 15 years old, giving it a strong chance to reproduce in the future and help increase the population of this vital species in the Mediterranean Sea.

The turtle was transported yesterday from the agency’s headquarters in Alexandria by a specialized environmental team from the ministry, and was released this morning at a pre-designated environmentally appropriate location on Alexandria’s coast, after recording its full biological measurements:

Shell length: 63 cm

Shell width: 57 cm

Front flipper: 34 cm

Back flipper: 23 cm

Head length: 17 cm

Head width: 15 cm

Weight: 40 kg
The Minister emphasized that the success of such operations reflects ongoing efforts to develop marine rescue programs in Egypt and to provide the scientific and human resources needed to care for injured marine life. She stressed the importance of international collaboration, such as with the Marine Rescue Center in Greece and the Marine Rescue Association in Alexandria.

This event follows the successful rescue of another turtle named Darya in February 2025, which underwent intensive treatment at the Ashtoum El Gamil center before being safely released into the Mediterranean.

Sea turtles are essential to maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems, and preserving them is a shared responsibility among nations and communities.