From 2002 to 2025, Porto d'Abrigo saved the lives of marine animals and witnessed many happy endings.
Here are some examples of the hundreds of cases of marine animal rehabilitations that have taken place at Porto d’Abrigo and returned to their natural environment.
Species
Dermochelys coriacea (leatherback turtle)
Occurrence
Quinas was admitted with suspected aspiration pneumonia after being trapped in fishing gear for over an hour by the neck and left fin. The sea turtle was spotted off Meia Praia, in Lagos (Algarve), by bathers. After the alert was raised, it was rescued within three hours by the Maritime Police and and taken to the beach until the team of biologists and veterinarians from Zoomarine arrived. It was then transported to Porto d'Abrigo.
Date of admission
20-06-2019
Condition on arrival
Signs of exhaustion and injuries resulting from the incident
Treatment and case history
Over the following weeks, it was necessary to rule out the possibility of infections caused by the injuries and inhalation of water. When she reached a stable clinical condition, she was transferred to a larger tank until she recovered.
On 7 August 2019, Quinas – the name chosen by the public in an online vote on social media – was returned to the sea 10 miles south of Portimão.
Weight on arrival
271 Kg
Length on arrival
1,55m
Date of return
07-08-2019
Species
Caretta caretta (loggerhead sea turtle)
Occurrence
Salina was admitted with suspected aspiration pneumonia after being trapped and submerged in fishing gear for an unknown period of time. The fisherman who rescued her and his wife contacted Zoomarine's harbour of refuge.
Date of admission
06-06-2021
Condition on arrival
Very weak, anaemic and with a hook lodged in her stomach
Treatment and case history
A gastric endoscopy was performed to assess the hook, which was completely encapsulated and immobile, posing no risk. The potential risks of invasive removal were not clinically justified. During rehabilitation, every care was taken to preserve her wild characteristics.
Salina returned to the sea on 20 July 2022 with satellite equipment attached to her shell, allowing her journey through the Mediterranean to be monitored for a year. The data confirmed the success of her recovery and enriched behavioural research on this species.
Weight on arrival
38,7 Kg → 51,8 Kg
Length on arrival
63,5 cm → 67 cm
Return date
20-07-2022
Species
Caretta caretta (loggerhead sea turtle)
Occurrence
Found washed up on Praia Grande beach in Sintra, collected by the RALVT (Lisbon and Tagus Valley Stranding Network) team and transported to Zoomarine.
Date of admission
03-03-2024
Condition on arrival
Comatose, small healing wound on shell, algae on shell (indicating low activity), signs of dehydration, mouth full of sand.
Treatment and case history
Oxygen therapy in a makeshift normobaric chamber for the prevention and treatment of decompression sickness. Tests revealed anaemia and X-rays showed sand in the digestive tract. She recovered progressively, gaining activity and appetite.
Weight on arrival
242,3 g → 544,7 g
Length on arrival
11,36 cm → 14,3 cm
Date of return
16-05-2024
Species
Chelonia mydas (green turtle)
Occurrence
Found in fishing nets. The fisherman contacted the Porto d'Abrigo team for rescue.
Date of admission
12-06-2024
Condition on arrival
Trapped at depth with no ability to surface and breathe, wounds caused by fishing lines on the fins, very prostrate.
Treatment and case history
Oxygen therapy in a normobaric chamber for the first 24 hours to prevent and treat decompression sickness, treatment of signs of infection.
Weight on arrival
8,2 Kg
Length on arrival
39,3 cm
Date of return
26-07-2024
Species
Mauremys leprosa (Mediterranean turtle)
Occurrence
Delivered to Porto d'Abrigo after 50 years in human care.
Date of arrival
25-05-2022
Condition on arrival
Good body condition, slightly abnormal shell shape (flattening), difficulties in controlling buoyancy.
Treatments and case history
Initially showed swimming and buoyancy difficulties, with no ability to swim or surface. Locomotor capacity tests were performed to assess muscle development. After behavioural and nutritional rehabilitation, with stimulation of swimming ability, TeFiti regained her swimming abilities and requirements to return to the wild.
Weight on arrival
1160g → 1054,3g
Length on arrival
17,7 cm → 17,8 cm
Date of return
26-03-2024
Irrecoverable specimens
There are cases of specimens in recovery centres that are deemed unsuitable for release back into the wild. The reasons for this can range from physical incapacity to survive in the wild to excessive proximity to humans.
For ethical reasons, animals considered irrecoverable that pass through Porto d’Abrigo are referred to other institutions. Zoomarine collaborates with the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) to find them another home that provides them with a suitable habitat with ongoing care, integrating education and awareness programmes about the threats they face.