October 22, 2012

It took over three-and-a-half years of innovative treatment to rehabilitate Frankie the sea turtle before this loggerhead terrapin could be released back to the wild. And though there were raised doubts whether Frankie – who arrived at the Israeli Sea Turtle Rescue Center with a fractured skull and broken jaw – could ever swim free again, volunteers and staff recently celebrated her return to the Mediterranean Sea.

Frankie was the worst case scenario to ever arrive at the center. After being run over by a boat, this enormous turtle was expected to die.

“She’s a miracle,” says Yaniv Levy, manager of the Israeli Sea Turtle Rescue Center.

The center in Mikhmoret — the only rehabilitation center in the Middle East — nurses some 50 injured turtles back to health every year. Staff there also gathers and incubates eggs and returns the hatchlings to the beaches; raises public awareness on the plight of the turtles; and helps preserve the coastline.

The center helps keep the Mediterranean Sea Turtle population from extinction.

Frankie arrived at the center in 2009, weighing 22-kilograms. She was released from Gador Beach into the Mediterranean Sea weighing 57-kg and measuring 15-centimeters longer.

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