This year’s World Sea Turtle Day was marked by the successful return of a rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) named Višnja to her natural habitat. Višnja was admitted to the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre on April 1, 2025, suffering from hypothermia, dehydration, malnutrition, and lethargy. She also exhibited buoyancy disorder, a condition in which a turtle is unable to dive and floats unnaturally.

Thanks to dedicated supportive therapy, Višnja gradually regained her strength, began feeding on her own, and resumed normal diving behavior. Her release took place at Veli Žal Beach in Lošinj’s Sunčana Uvala, where we accompanied her back to the sea.

The event was organized in cooperation with Jadranka Turizam, which marked the occasion by raising the Blue Flag at Veli Žal Beach—a symbol of the beach’s adherence to high international standards. The Blue Flag is awarded exclusively to beaches and marinas that meet stringent criteria for environmental management, cleanliness, and sustainable tourism. According to global tourism experts, the Blue Flag is not just a sign of cleanliness—it also signifies a destination’s commitment to sustainable development, community education, and the preservation of natural heritage.

This event also served as an opportunity to educate attendees and raise public awareness about sea turtle conservation. Particular focus was given to the major threats sea turtles face and the critical role rehabilitation centers play in protecting these endangered species.

The Sea Turtle Rescue Centre, located in Sunčana Uvala on the island of Lošinj, has been operating since July 19, 2013. It provides professional care for exhausted, sick, and injured sea turtles, with the goal of returning them to the wild. Over the past 12 years, the center has treated 67 loggerhead turtles, successfully rehabilitating and releasing 42 of them. On average, the center admits five turtles per year, though this number can range from as few as one to as many as 15 annually. The most common reasons for admission include exhaustion, hypothermia, entanglement in fishing gear or marine debris, accidental bycatch, and injuries from boat collisions or propellers.

Following Višnja’s release, two turtles—Cvita and Nina—remain under care at the center. Cvita is a juvenile loggerhead, approximately four years old, who lost both front flippers, while Nina is recovering from aspiration pneumonia. Sea turtles are remarkably resilient animals, and with appropriate medical treatment and dedicated care, they can often recover fully and return to the sea.