The story of Elo the sea turtle took a hopeful turn this Wednesday in Portmany Bay. After several months of intensive care at the Palma Aquarium, the animal was finally released back into the open sea off Es Cap Blanc, in the municipality of Sant Antoni.
Elo's return to the sea marks the end of a long and delicate recovery process , which began last November when she was found severely injured after becoming entangled in a fishing net. Despite the amputation of one flipper, specialists believe the turtle now has the necessary conditions to thrive in the wild.
From the rescue in Sant Antoni to the transfer to Mallorca
Elo's story began when the owner of a boat anchored in Portmany Bay spotted the turtle in very poor condition near the Sant Antoni Yacht Club. Without hesitation, he picked up the animal and immediately handed it over to the club's staff, who activated the protocol for assisting injured marine wildlife.
At the Club NÃ utic Sant Antoni facilities, the team named her Elo and kept her hydrated by covering her with wet towels while her veterinary care was being arranged. In this initial phase, the Eivivet clinic carried out the initial assessment of the turtle's condition before transferring her to a specialized center.
Once stabilized, the turtle was transported to Mallorca by technicians from the Palma Aquarium Foundation , in a journey supported by the shipping company Baleà ria, both on the outbound and return trips. The objective was clear: to give it the best possible chance of survival in a center equipped for the rehabilitation of sea turtles.
Once at the Palma Aquarium, the professionals discovered that Elo had a very serious injury to her left front flipper , the result of becoming entangled in a fishing net. The wound was so advanced that amputation was the only option to prevent further complications.
The turtle's overall condition was delicate: it was very weak, with low energy reserves and signs of exhaustion . From that moment on, a recovery protocol was implemented, which included regular veterinary checkups, blood tests, and very close monitoring of its progress.
Months of care and a step-by-step recovery
During the following months, Elo remained in the recovery pools of the Palma Aquarium in Mallorca , where she received daily care from the technical team. Her diet consisted mainly of sardines and anchovies, providing the necessary calories and nutrients to support her gradual recovery.
As the weeks passed, the caretakers began to observe a steady improvement in the turtle's behavior: increased activity in the water, a better response to feeding, and a remarkable weight gain. Elo reached 22 kilos, a positive indicator of her physical condition after treatment.
Experts indicate that, despite the amputation of its left front flipper, the turtle's swimming and navigational abilities gradually returned to normal. Sea turtles can adapt to the loss of a limb, and in this case, the animal's mobility became sufficient to ensure its survival in the open ocean.
In fact, the technical team believes that Elo had been fully recovered for over a month . However, they opted to delay her release until the water temperature rose, so that her return to the wild would take place under more favorable environmental conditions.
This additional time frame has allowed for the release to be adjusted as much as possible, prioritizing both the animal's well-being and the guarantees of survival in the wild , a key issue when dealing with specimens that have suffered such severe injuries.
The return to the sea in the bay of Portmany
Wednesday was marked by Elo's return journey from Mallorca to Portmany Bay . Technicians from the Palma Aquarium Foundation oversaw the transfer by boat and supervised all the details before the release, which was authorized by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
The release took place in the open sea, around 12:30 pm, off Es Cap Blanc, in Sant Antoni . Several boats, including those from the Sant Antoni Nautical Club's Sports Area, were present as the turtle was returned to its natural habitat in the middle of the bay.
In the moments before its release, the technicians observed that Elo appeared vigorous and restless upon sensing the smell of the sea , a reaction considered positive by the specialists. Once she leaned towards the water, the turtle submerged, surfaced several times to breathe, and finally swam away until she disappeared beneath the surface.
As part of the follow-up protocol, the professionals have implanted an identification chip in Elo containing her complete medical history . If she is located again, her data can be quickly accessed and her condition reassessed—a tool that increases the possibilities for future intervention if needed.
The Sant Antoni Nautical Club and the Palma Aquarium Foundation emphasize that the survival of the three-fliped turtle is perfectly viable, given the degree of adaptation these animals can develop. The release was only carried out when the physical and behavioral indicators were satisfactory.
An educational and conservation project in the Balearic Islands
The release of Elo was not only an act of conservation, but also an educational opportunity for the local community. Second-year high school students from IES Quartó de Portmany, who are working on a communication project about how to react when they find injured marine animals , were present at the release.
This project is part of the Biology course and has already included preliminary training activities with the Sant Antoni Nautical Club. The students' participation in a real-life case like Elo's allows them to learn firsthand about the protocols, the coordination between organizations, and the importance of citizen involvement in marine wildlife rescue.
The action has been carried out under the authorization of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge , within a broader program of conservation and protection of threatened marine species in the Balearic Islands, including sea turtles, cetaceans and sharks.
The marine wildlife stranding response service in the Balearic Islands is managed by the Consortium for the Recovery of Wildlife in the Balearic Islands (COFIB) , which is part of the species protection service of the Balearic Government's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment. This service coordinates interventions when injured or distressed animals are found along the coast.
Currently, the Palma Aquarium is home to nine adult turtles and four hatchlings in recovery , awaiting their eventual release back into the wild. One of the adults weighs 90 kilos, a testament to the type of specimens the center cares for in its rescue and rehabilitation programs.
The case of Elo highlights the impact that fishing nets and other gear can have on marine wildlife , but it also demonstrates the importance of a swift response from boaters, yacht clubs, wildlife rehabilitation centers, and government agencies. The combination of citizen rescue, specialized technical work, and public conservation programs has allowed this turtle, which arrived severely weakened and with an amputated flipper, to return to Portmany Bay today with a real chance of surviving at sea.
