Six sea turtles released into sea on World Ocean Day in south China

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A total of six sea turtles were released into the sea after five months' of intensive care at a protection center in Sanya City, south China's Hainan Province, on Saturday to mark World Ocean Day.

"After our treatment and examination, including gastroscopy and b-ultrasound examination, we confirmed that they are in good condition. They can eat the bait in the sea and have no problem to eat live fish. So we released them. We need to make sure that they can live a normal life after returning to nature," said Chen Rujun, director of the sea turtle research and treatment center.

View of Sanya, south China's Hainan Province. /VCG Photo

In addition to the six turtles that were released, there are 30 more currently being treated at the center.

Over the past few months, local authorities and residents have been finding injured sea turtles in the waters around Sanya.

"When they were sent here, the four turtles had visible injuries. This one's right posterior fin was ulcerated. We simply cleaned wounds. And then we sterilized and applied gentian violet on its wounds," said Pang Lei, a veterinarian of the sea turtle research and treatment center.

A sea turtle (file photo) /VCG Photo

Experts estimate that there are less than 2,000 adult sea turtles in the South China Sea. The increased marine pollution, human activities, and overfishing severely impact sea turtle's habitat and reduces their population. The demand for their meat and eggs remains high despite that it's illegal to capture, purchase, trade, transport, possess, and use sea turtles in China.

Currently, there are two turtle habitat nature reserves in China, one is located in Huidong County in south China's Guangdong Province and the other is in Qilianyu in the Sansha City of Hainan.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)