Rescued five-year-old sea turtle without front flippers finds new home at Brijuni

(Photo: Blue World Institute)

A rescued loggerhead sea turtle named Cvita has begun the next stage of her recovery at Brijuni National Park, where she will continue receiving expert care after spending 15 months at a marine turtle rehabilitation centre on Lošinj Island.

Since 1 July 2026, Cvita has been staying in the large pool at the Safari Park on Brijuni, where specialists will continue monitoring her condition and abilities in a more spacious environment.

Cvita was discovered on 23 March 2025 on Milna Beach on Vis Island. She was exhausted and covered with injuries believed to have been caused by repeated impacts against rocks during a strong southern storm. When she was found, she was missing both front flippers, although the wounds had already fully healed.

The exact cause of her injuries remains unknown. Veterinarians have been unable to determine what happened or how she managed to survive and recover before being discovered.

When she arrived at the rehabilitation centre, Cvita weighed just 4.8 kilograms and had a shell length of 35.2 centimetres. With dedicated care from specialists and a carefully adapted diet, she has grown significantly during rehabilitation, reaching 9.2 kilograms and a shell length of 43.1 centimetres.

(Photo: Blue World Institute)

Based on her shell size, experts estimate that Cvita is between five and six years old.

Although her condition has improved and she has regained the ability to dive during rehabilitation, she continues to experience difficulties with submerging. According to current assessments, returning her to the wild is unlikely to be possible.

Brijuni provides new conditions for continued recovery

Veterinarians determined that the large Safari Park pool at Brijuni offers the best conditions for the next phase of Cvita’s rehabilitation during the summer months.

The deeper and more spacious pool will allow experts to better assess her diving ability while providing more room for movement, a constant supply of fresh seawater, and exposure to natural air and sunlight.

Her feeding programme has also been adapted to encourage activity and strengthen her physical condition. Fish are offered individually and placed close to her so she is encouraged to move towards them, while shellfish are attached to a rope and positioned in a way that requires her to reach for them.

(Photo: Blue World Institute)

The approach allows Cvita to feed while also encouraging greater movement and the use of her healthy limbs.

When sea temperatures fall to around 18°C, Cvita is expected to be transferred to a heated pool at another rehabilitation facility, where she will continue receiving controlled care and veterinary supervision.

(Photo:JU NP Brijuni)

Cvita’s stay at Brijuni represents continued cooperation between Croatian institutions involved in the protection and rehabilitation of marine turtles, with the shared goal of providing the best possible care for animals requiring long-term assistance.

(Photo: Blue World Institute)