A green sea turtle, affectionately named Lucy by her caretakers, has returned to her natural habitat in the waters off Cyprus following a three-month recovery period at the island's aquaculture research center. Lucy was discovered on a beach earlier this year, appearing to be exhausted. However, after undergoing treatment for dehydration, receiving steroids, and being fed a diet rich in vitamins, the 20-year-old turtle was released on Friday near the southern city of Larnaca.
"She is now capable of surviving on her own," stated Yianna Samuel, a fisheries and marine research officer at Cyprus's department of fisheries and marine research. Cyprus is home to two species of turtles: the green turtle and the loggerhead, also known as Caretta caretta. While green turtles are classified as endangered, loggerheads are considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
