2025-07-29T21:51:36Z

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It was a blustery day in March, and while you might expect to see kites soaring high in the sky, one kite surfer in Malta stumbled upon something far more alarming — a large stick that turned out to be a desperate sea turtle fighting for survival.

As the winds whipped around, this brave surfer paddled closer to the curious sight, only to realize that the stick wasn’t just bobbing along with the tide; there was a turtle tangled at the end of it, trapped by a knot of plastic. It’s a haunting reminder of how our oceans are littered with human refuse, impacting the very creatures we share this planet with.

The surfer, clearly not one to turn a blind eye to distress, quickly contacted the Wildlife Rescue Team Malta. Enter Lisa and Liz, two dedicated volunteers who rushed to the scene, determined to save the turtle. However, the rough seas proved too challenging for them to navigate alone. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, they called for backup from Civil Protection Malta, who arrived ready to assist.

After a tense search, the team located the precious creature, who was named Belle. The sight of this majestic animal entrapped in man-made debris tugged at the heartstrings of everyone involved. Volunteers carefully pulled Belle from the water and brought her to safety, where Lisa and Liz awaited. Upon examination, the team was relieved to find that Belle's entanglement wasn’t as severe as it could have been; there were no deep cuts or loss of circulation to her flippers.

“Thankfully, the entanglement wasn't extremely tight and hadn't caused deep cuts or loss of circulation to the flippers,” a representative from Wildlife Rescue Team Malta shared with The Dodo, emphasizing the critical importance of such rescues. After treating her superficial injuries, the volunteers gave Belle a moment of relaxation before setting her free back into her ocean home, a poignant reminder of the fragile balance between humanity and nature.