Yesterday was a non-stop day for Malta’s Wildlife Rescue Team, as their emergency line was flooded with calls from early morning, mainly for injured hedgehogs and other wildlife. But what made the day truly unique was the back-to-back rescue of two distressed turtles in Armier.

At around 10:45am, the team received a call about a turtle in distress at Little Armier. Volunteers immediately rushed to the scene and brought the turtle, later named Felic, to the rehabilitation centre.

Once in their care, it became clear that Felic was in bad shape. The turtle had a 4.95m-long fishing line coming out of its mouth, another looped fishing line emerging from its cloaca, heavy algal overgrowth on its shell and front flipper, and multiple fresh wounds on its carapace—likely from colliding with rocks.

While the team was still settling Felic in at Xrobb L-Għaġin, another urgent call came in at 1:30pm. A second turtle, named Chrissy, was found in distress at the beach near Ramla Bay Resort.

With the first set of volunteers still occupied, another group of rescuers was dispatched to bring Chrissy in. The turtle also had a 4m fishing line coming out of its mouth but appeared to have no other visible injuries—though it was extremely lethargic.

Both turtles will now undergo a veterinary assessment to check for possible fishing hooks before determining the next treatment steps.

All rescued animals, including turtles, are protected species, and it is illegal in Malta to keep them as pets. The Wildlife Rescue Team operates with trained volunteers who have the necessary permits, equipment, and expertise to safely handle and rehabilitate these creatures.

If you come across an injured or distressed wild animal, call the Wildlife Rescue Team immediately on 99999505.

Donations to help continue this vital work are always appreciated. Contributions can be made via:

Bank Transfer / Revolut: IBAN MT18 VALL 2201 3000 0000 4002 353 8289, Swift Code VALLMTMT

BOV Mobile Pay: 99999505

Well done to all involved!