The long journey of the turtle Ulysses towards freedom: he returns to the sea after being trapped in a trawl net

A long journey towards freedom found its happy ending at the first light of dawn on the Adriatic shores. The sea turtle Ulysses, a majestic adult male weighing almost 50 kilograms, has set sail again in the waters of Baia Flaminia in Pesaro. The animal’s story risked turning into a tragedy when the specimen accidentally ended up trapped in a trawl net during a fishing trip off the coast of Cesenatico. Fortunately, rescue procedures were activated promptly, allowing the reptile to be taken into custody by biologists to receive the necessary medical assistance.

The specimen was quickly transferred to the Sea Turtle Recovery Center in Riccione, a specialized facility managed by the Cetacea Foundation, where approximately fifteen other specimens are currently hospitalized. At the Romagna hub, the sea turtle underwent a delicate rehabilitation process that lasted almost two months, essential to overcome the trauma suffered during capture at sea. The stay and the health treatments involved an average expense of around one thousand euros, covered thanks to the financial support offered by the La Saponaria company.

The crowdfunding campaign and release in Baia Flaminia

The brand’s economic intervention is part of We are not islands, a crowdfunding campaign selected by the RivieraBanca shared paths initiative. The goal of the fundraising, active on the IdeaGinger platform, aims to reach twenty thousand euros to guarantee winter care for at least twenty specimens in difficulty. The exciting moment of release into the sea took place at 5.45 in the morning thanks to the precious collaboration of the volunteers of the Cetacea Foundation, who have been active for weeks along the Pesaro coast also to monitor the traces of turtle nesting.

The teams from Bagno Joe Amarena and the Da Ani bar also provided logistical support and hospitality to the liberation event, hosting the operators and citizens present. With the push of his fins and the help of rescuers, Ulysses set out again in the Adriatic, leaving behind him two months of hospitalization and restoring hope for the protection of local marine fauna.