With reference to the letter entitled ‘Turtle adoption’ (The Sunday Times, February 17), Nature Trust (Malta) has already communicated directly with Karen Mikula Degiorgio.

The priority is always the animal

The turtle was indeed released at short notice and the reasons for this decision were two-fold. While it is true that we try to have the authorities present during a release, on the other hand the timing was also against us as turtles are released when the sea temperature is still 21C or over.

This release was one of the last two for 2012 and we could not risk waiting further, or else the sea temperature would have gone below 21C  and this would have meant the turtle having to stay in a tank until the sea temperature rises again – which would have meant towards April or May 2013 – six months later.  Turtles are reptiles and so they are cold-blooded and their body temperature mirrors the temperature of the sea. This is one reason why turtles migrate all the time to warmer waters.

The priority is always given to the animal, as we try not to keep rehabilitated turtles any longer than necessary in the rehabilitation tanks.  These are wild animals and we try to avoid keeping turtles captive for long periods, so our practice is to keep the animal until it has recovered and then release it as soon as we are given the go-ahead by our vet.  Furthermore we require the release documents from Mepa since these are protected species – as soon as these are obtained, we release immediately.

Nature Trust has already offered Mikula Degiorgio the chance to attend another release this year.  Releases are carried out in the presence of the people who adopt them. As much as the adopt-a-turtle campaign might allow for adopters to attend releases, the animal’s welfare takes priority over attendance.  When they cannot attend we invite them to the next release.

Nature Trust thanks the authorities for their full support of turtle and other wildlife rehabilitation, and also all those who adopt a turtle.