After an intensive rescue and rehabilitation effort, the sea turtle is now strong enough to swim in our large Ocean Tank, to the great joy of our many visitors.
“I am pleased that we have once again contributed to saving and rehabilitating an animal in need, a task that is an important part of our work,” says Jon Diderichsen, CEO of Den Blå Planet. He continues: “Similarly, we rescued a sea turtle that was found stranded near Blåvand in 2020, and to the great joy of our many visitors, we have provided a home for four sea otters that were all rescued off the coast of Alaska. Both sea turtles and sea otters are endangered species in the wild, and even though they do not have a natural habitat in Danish waters, they should of course receive our help when we have the opportunity.”
At the end of January, a German tourist was in for a surprise while walking along the beach at Hvide Sande. There, she found a severely weakened and hypothermic sea turtle. In collaboration with Fiskeri- og Søfartsmuseet in Esbjerg, the turtle was transported to Copenhagen, where veterinarians from Copenhagen Zoo and animal caretakers from Den Blå Planet worked around the clock to care for the critically ill animal as it fought its way back to life.
A German Tourist’s Surprising Discovery – A sick sea turtle stranded on the Danish west coast.
Now, the turtle is swimming in the Ocean Tank at Den Blå Planet after the Danish Environmental Protection Agency approved its stay. A chip under its skin revealed that it had previously been found stranded in France and was released back into the wild.
Since the turtle has now been found stranded twice, this suggests that its ability to navigate is impaired. If we release it again, we risk it being carried by the currents to places where it cannot survive.
Increasing Strandings Along the West Coast
Recently, more stranded sea turtles have been observed along the west coast of Jutland. Unfortunately, all of them were either found dead or died shortly after being discovered. The exact reason for the increase in these strandings remains uncertain. However, the stranded turtles play a crucial role in providing scientists with valuable insights into the species and its challenges.
“Every single stranded sea turtle gives us new knowledge. We are working with researchers to understand why we are seeing more strandings and how it relates to changes in the marine environment. The knowledge we gain from these stranded turtles is essential for better protecting the species,” says Lars Skou Olsen, Curator at Den Blå Planet.
Azul, a sea turtle that was found stranded near Blåvand in 2020, weighed just 2 kg at the time. Now, after five years at Den Blå Planet, it weighs around 25 kg.
Animal Rescue and Conservation Efforts
When guests purchase a ticket to Den Blå Planet, they are not only gaining access to a spectacular aquarium but also supporting the rescue of animals—something this sea turtle is a concrete example of.
In addition to being actively involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of marine animals, Den Blå Planet participates in numerous conservation and breeding programs aimed at protecting biodiversity and safeguarding species threatened with extinction.
Our efforts include projects both within the aquarium and in the wild, where we collaborate with partners to support endangered species and generate new knowledge that strengthens future conservation initiatives. Currently, Den Blå Planet is involved in more than 50 breeding and conservation projects worldwide.
Den Blå Planet is the only place in Denmark where visitors can experience sea turtles.
