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Date Published: 31/10/2025

Largest loggerhead turtle ever found in Murcia released back into the sea at Calnegre

The giant 70-kilo female was released in Lorca after months of recovery and rehabilitation

The largest loggerhead turtle ever recorded in the Region of Murcia has been returned to the sea after several months of care and rehabilitation. The impressive 70-kilo turtle, estimated to be between 40 and 50 years old, was released on Thursday October 30 in Calnegre cove, within the Regional Park of Cabo Cope and Puntas de Calnegre in Lorca.

The adult female, measuring around 80 centimetres in length, was rescued in April from La Manga del Mar Menor in San Javier, after she was found injured by two lifeguards. The lifeguards quickly alerted the El Valle Wildlife Recovery Centre, whose veterinary team transported her to the centre for treatment.

At El Valle, specialists treated her wounds and helped her adapt to the loss of one of her front flippers, ensuring she regained the strength and stability needed to survive in the wild. Once her recovery was complete, she was transferred to the Oceanogràfic in Valencia for a final health check to confirm her swimming ability before being cleared for release.

The turtle is now equipped with both a microchip and a satellite transmitter, allowing technicians to monitor her progress and behaviour at sea, particularly during the breeding season.

The authorities say her release highlights Murcia’s growing reputation as a key region for the protection and recovery of loggerhead turtles. The El Valle Wildlife Recovery Centre has rescued and released 52 injured turtles since 2010, while another 207 have hatched from nests found along the regional coastline since the first discovery in 2019.

In total, 259 loggerhead turtles have been released in the Region, with 94 of those taking place this year alone, a record number that cements Murcia’s status as “Turtle Territory.”

For more local events, news and visiting information contact the tourist office in the Plaza de España (telephone 968 441914) go to the home page of Lorca Today

Images: Ayuntamiento de Lorca

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