Special to the PRESS
Sea Turtle Inc. is thrilled to announce the arrival of Bagua, a hawksbill sea turtle, as the newest permanent resident at the organization’s renowned sea turtle medical care and conservation facility. Late Saturday night on Oct. 19, Bagua completed her 2500-mile journey from Puerto Rico to her new home on South Padre Island.
In 2009, Bagua was captured as a juvenile by poachers, where she sustained significant injuries. In an effort to control her, poachers threaded wire from one eye to the other, leaving her almost completely blind. After her rescue, Bagua was cared for at the Puerto Rico Zoo until being transferred to the Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center in 2018 to continue her recovery.
Now, as she settles into her forever home, Sea Turtle Inc. staff will focus on offering enrichment and education opportunities and providing Bagua with specialized care for the rest of her life. “We are so honored to have Bagua make it safely to her forever home with us at Sea Turtle Inc.,” said Sea Turtle Inc Chief Executive Officer Wendy Knight. “Saturday was an exhausting day for the staff as we
executed on a plan weeks in the making.”
Visitors to Sea Turtle Inc. will now have the chance to meet Bagua and learn about the vital importance of hawksbill conservation. Hawksbills are a critically endangered species threatened by habitat loss and illegal trade. As part of the organization’s broader mission to educate and inspire, Bagua will act as an ambassador, raising awareness about marine conservation and the threats posed by human activity.
“Bagua’s story is a tragic and heartbreaking example of the cruelty of illegal trade,” said Knight. “…But Bagua is a story of resiliency, of perseverance and adaptation. We are honored to be trusted to protect her and keep her safe for the rest of her lifetime.”
Sea Turtle Inc. invites the public to meet Bagua and explore the organization’s facility, which houses non-releasable resident sea turtles and offers a deeper look into the challenges faced by marine wildlife. For more information on Bagua and Sea Turtle Inc., visit www.seaturtleinc.org.
News Source: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/
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