THE CARETTA CARETTA, WHICH WAS HELPED BACK TO THE SEA WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE LARA BARUT COLLECTION, HAS BEEN SWIMMING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN FOR ONE YEAR.
Caretta Caretta, found exhausted on the beach about 2.5 years ago, was provided with medical treatment by the veterinarians from DEKAMER, and it started diving again thanks to the proper diet it received, in addition to the medical treatment. After its rehabilitation was completed, the Caretta was helped back to the sea from the beach of the hotel on July 20, 2022, with the support of Lara Barut Collection, which has been honored with numerous environmental awards by different institutions and organizations for its environmental projects, and with the participation of a large group of guests.
Stating that Lara, which has been monitored for a year, has had significant scientific contributions to them, Prof. Dr. Yakup Kaska, the Director of DEKAMER and a Lecturer at Pamukkale University, added: “Although we have had a good grasp of tracking sea turtles via satellite after nesting, we didn't know much about the migration routes of injured sea turtles after they receive medical treatment. So, Lara has been an important study in providing us with information we did not have before. Although we already know the beaches they nest and the importance thereof, it has furnished us with information about the Important Marine Turtle Area (IMTA), including main feeding and over-wintering areas in the Mediterranean. Among these areas, the Gulf of Gabes in Tunisia and Bardavil Lake in Egypt stand out as the areas, where turtles, which nest in the Mediterranean, North Africa, and our country, are most found. Lara also follows such a route that it will feed in Bardavil Lake in Egypt at the end of its migration journey. Lara, which was helped back to the sea and tracked after its rehabilitation was completed, made other companies contact us to provide similar support. It has been an exemplary study on regulating tourism activities in the breeding areas of Caretta Caretta and sea turtles, showing that sea turtles and tourism can co-exist.”
Noting that they named it Lara, which means water fairy and sand, Cem Karacan, the General Manager of Lara Barut Collection said: "We have been preserving the rare sea daffodils and the nesting areas of Caretta Caretta on our beach for long years since the area, where our hotel is located, is the home to several creatures, especially to them. We have to act with awareness. We are more than pleased to take part in this project. Our guests also track Lara on the map on our website, and they ask us about Lara. For about two months, we did not receive any signal from Lara. We were worried that we lost her. Starting to receive signals again was a joy to behold for our group. Lara has become an inseparable part of us. We wish to hear from her for many long years to come’’.
