When, in June 2021, the fisherman Ricardo Gonçalves rescued a sea turtle from fishing nets in the Guadiana River, surely he was far from imagining that, thanks to his cool-bloodedness, quick response and good judgment, one day, such specimen of the species Caretta caretta would return to the sea in such conditions that would show us what a turtle can do best: swim a lot! However, that is precisely what is happening with Salina, who was returned to the sea exactly one month ago and who, since then, has already swum 1500 kilometres.

Upon arrival at Zoomarine’s Porto d’Abrigo, in June 2021, Salina was very anaemic, had a hook stuck in the entrance to her stomach, and was at high risk of developing aspiration pneumonia. However, this turtle was given a second chance at life when, on 20 July 2022, in a cooperation between Zoomarine’s team of experts and the Portuguese Navy (Southern Maritime Department), Ricardo Golçalves’ noble effort was honoured, and the sea turtle was returned to the sea about 20 kilometres south of Faro.

Meanwhile, satellite data shows that, in just 30 days, Salina has been swimming at an average of more than 50 kilometres a day. In this first month of its return to the wild, this particular turtle passed off the Gulf of Cadiz, swam off the coast of Tangiers, entered the Gilbraltar Strait, and since then has been sailing in great circles along the Alboran Sea, between Malaga (Spain) and El Jehba (Morocco). She is now some 345 kilometres (as the crow flies) from where she was returned – and she looks great!

If conditions continue, Salina (who, as the years go by, may even turn out to be ‘the Salino’…) should continue on her way, indifferent to the contribution she’s making to science – and that’s the way it should be, to respect her well-being and her return to a peaceful life, honouring the biology of the species (living dozens of years, reproducing annually, and never crossing paths with humans again).

Go Salina! May your plans be fulfilled – and although you may not know it, we are still with you, daily, looking anxiously (but also with joy and paternal pride) at a computer screen…