On March 22, the Maritime Patrol Directorate General of the Coast Guard Administration, Executive Yuan, together with the Dongsha Command of the Southern Coastal Patrol Office, carried out an expanded crackdown operation against the illegal Mainland Chinese fishing vessel “Qiong Qionghaiyu No. 05055.” During the operation, three protected and rare green sea turtles that had been illegally captured were seized. One turtle had already been dismembered. Of the remaining two, one that had sustained more serious injuries was transported on March 30 by personnel from the Maritime Patrol Directorate General and the Marine National Park Headquarters to the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium for treatment by professional veterinarians. The other turtle was temporarily housed at the Dongsha Atoll National Park Wildlife Conservation Center for nearby care. After researchers from the Marine National Park Headquarters conducted a physical examination in accordance with standard sea turtle assessment procedures, the turtle was found to have minor external injuries but remained in generally good condition. During its care period, conservation and research staff collected approximately 4 kilograms of fresh seaweed daily from the shore to feed the turtle. After 11 days of careful observation and rehabilitation, its swimming and feeding abilities had recovered well. It was therefore released back into the wild today (April 3) on Dongsha Island, returning to its natural marine habitat.
Those who witnessed the sea turtle’s release included Director Yu Deng-liang of the Marine National Park Headquarters; Commander Yang Chao-ching of the Fifth (Kaohsiung) Maritime Patrol Corps; Commander Liao De-sheng of the Dongsha Command, Southern Coastal Patrol Office; Commander Zhao Li-guo of the Air Force 6th Logistics Group; and other stationed personnel, totaling 33 participants. As the turtle slowly crawled across the beach and safely entered the seagrass bed before disappearing into the sea, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief. This action symbolized the joint commitment of government agencies to marine conservation and expressed hope that one day this turtle may return again to these successfully protected waters.
The Dongsha Atoll National Park Wildlife Conservation Center was established by the Marine National Park Headquarters to strengthen wildlife conservation efforts at Dongsha Atoll. The center includes dedicated facilities for sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation, as well as other wildlife emergency response capabilities, and actively supports wildlife rescue and conservation work in the waters of Dongsha Atoll.
