Sea turtles have to survive and swim in a minefield of debris, plastics, and propellers that shatter their shells and carve indelible wounds into their ancient beaks and flippers. One of TWLF's important projects is supporting the DEKAMER Sea Turtles Rescue and Conservation Centre in Turkey. The centre takes in injured or sick sea turtles, assesses, treats and rehabilitates them before re-releasing them back into the ocean once they are strong enough.

Over 1000 turtles die per year from being beached and tangled in plastic including plastic fishing nets which are discarded. Eating plastic can block the turtle’s gut, preventing it from getting enough nutrition – this can lead to starvation, stunted growth, or - if it completely blocks the intestines or gets stuck in the turtle’s mouth - a slow and painful death. A study published in the Smithsonian Magazine in 2018 found out that just 1 piece of plastic has a 22% chance of killing a turtle.

Our very own brilliant and world-renowned veterinarian, Dr Knight, carried out some emergency veterinary work for the centre several years back, and it has remained an important project for TWLF ever since. So, when TWLF received an urgent request from them explaining that their life saving x-ray machine has broken down, we wanted to raise an urgent appeal for funds.

The specialist machine enables veterinary staff to accurately assess the illness or internal injuries to any turtles brought in, so that they can treat them properly. Without this vital piece of equipment, it is almost impossible to know without operating whether there are any blockages in the gut of a sick turtle, which could delay crucial treatment.

TWLF have already made an impact on sea turtle welfare and conservation and have funded medical supplies (antibiotics and intravenous fluids). The fluids are used for turtles who are not able to feed by themselves, and antibiotics often play an important part in the treatment of sick and injured turtles. Funds also supported the volunteers that are working at DEKAMER.

However, without the specialist veterinary x-ray machine, which will cost £10,000 to replace, they are really struggling to continue their life-saving assessments and operations on the turtles.

“With half the world’s turtles affected by plastic, it is imperative we do everything we can to help save them. This important x-ray machine will help save many lives.

Worldwide, over 1 million marine animals are killed per year by eating plastic – this includes sea mammals, birds, and fish. It is estimated that the oceans of the world contain 100 million tonnes of plastic – and unless we act drastically it will continue to rise until there is more plastic in the sea than fish, with all the disastrous consequences that entails.

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