More than 40 children shared a special moment in Fuerteventura as they watched a rescued loggerhead turtle return to the Atlantic after recovering from serious injuries caused by marine litter.

The juvenile loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) was released at Playa Blanca by the Fuerteventura Cabildo’s Environment Department as part of an environmental awareness initiative involving children aged between 8 and 13.

The youngsters were taking part in the ‘Un Verano Canario 2026’ summer camp, organised by the Pequeño Valiente Foundation.

The release formed part of the ‘De Vuelta a Casa’ (Back Home) project, which is included within the island’s ‘Conocer para Proteger’ (Know to Protect) environmental education programme.

The initiative uses the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife to teach people, particularly children, about the importance of protecting Fuerteventura’s biodiversity and marine environment.

Turtle was badly injured by marine litter

The turtle had been receiving treatment at the Marine Turtle Recovery and Conservation Centre in Morro Jable after becoming entangled in rubbish in the sea.

It was admitted to the centre on 12th June after being found at Playa Leandro, in the municipality of Antigua, weighing 6.8 kilograms.

The animal had become tangled in raffia, a type of plastic material that can end up as marine waste, causing serious injuries to one of its limbs.

Following weeks of specialist treatment, rehabilitation and monitoring, the centre's team determined that the turtle was fit enough to be returned to its natural habitat.

The children were able to learn about the turtle's recovery and some of the biggest threats facing marine wildlife, including discarded rubbish, plastics, ropes and other materials that can trap or injure animals.

An important lesson about protecting the oceans

Fuerteventura Cabildo president Lola García and Environment Councillor Carlos Rodríguez also attended the release.

García said that every successful release was an opportunity to celebrate an animal returning to the sea after a difficult recovery, but also served as a reminder of people's responsibility to protect the oceans.

She added that sharing the experience with the children of Pequeño Valiente made the occasion particularly special, highlighting environmental education as an important way of creating a society that is more committed to protecting its surroundings.

Rodríguez said the turtle's story demonstrated the real consequences that rubbish in the sea can have on marine animals.

He stressed the importance of teaching younger generations about these threats and helping them understand that everyday human actions can have a direct impact on marine wildlife.

What should you do if you find an injured turtle?

The Fuerteventura Cabildo is reminding residents and tourists that anyone who finds a sea turtle that is injured, stranded or apparently in difficulty should not attempt to handle it.

Instead, they should call the Canary Islands emergency number 112, allowing the appropriate rescue protocol to be activated and specialists to assess and transport the animal if necessary.

The release programme aims not only to return successfully rehabilitated animals to the wild, but also to give the public a first-hand understanding of why protecting the Canary Islands' marine environment is so important.

For the children taking part in this particular release, that lesson came with the memorable experience of watching a once-injured turtle finally make its way back home to the Atlantic Ocean.