Francesca the turtle was caught and released 12 years after its grounding.
Before being released, she was equipped with an Argos beacon to keep track of her movements in the wild. Francesca was cared for by Centre Oceanopolis based in Brest (France), then joined the Aquarium of La Rochelle (France) where she continued to grow.
She weighed 90 kgs when she was released this month.
Four of her turtle friends have accompanied her as she returns to the ocean, all equipped with Argos beacons. The Loggerhead sea turtle is a threatened species. It can be found in Cape Verde, South Africa or Japan, but also in tropical and subtropical waters (New Caledonia, Puerto Rico). It travels long distances between living and nesting sites. It is also the most common species in the Mediterranean and west Atlantic.
Coverage on national television France 3
