Named Vanora and Ukiyo, the first was found at the beginning of March, in Praia Grande, in the municipality of Sintra, in danger of death. Collected by RALVT – Rede de Arrojamentos de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, it was sent to Porto d’Abrigo do Zoomarine, in Guia, for rehabilitation.

“Upon arrival at the Zoomarine rehabilitation center, he was in a comatose state, weighing just 242.3 grams, 11.4 cm long, and with a small injury to his carapace. This Thursday, it already weighed 544.7 grams, more than double the weight when it arrived at Porto d’Abrigo”, explains the Albufeira water park in a statement.

“Vanora has been in rehabilitation since November 2023. She was found stranded in the mud, on the Carrapateira river (Bordeira, Aljezur) and delivered to a GNR post, where she remained safe until the Porto d’ Abrigo team arrived,” the note states.


Prostrate, very thin, and with physical signs of dehydration, she had several superficial injuries along her limbs, head, and carapace. At entry, it weighed 2.24 kg and was 24.6 cm long, which increased to 4.9 kg and 29.6 cm when returned to the sea.

For Antonieta Nunes, the veterinary nurse responsible for Porto d'Abrigo do Zoomarine, “the recovery and return of Vanora and Ukiyo to their natural habitat is a significant milestone for Porto d'Abrigo, which once again sees its mission fulfilled - to save and rehabilitate marine species, giving them a second chance in the wild”

The turtles were returned to the sea approximately 10 nautical miles south of Barra de Portimão, thanks to the support of the Portuguese Navy.