Sea Turtle Swept into Power Station Cooling System: Rescue Operation Caught on Video

Employees at the 'Rotenberg' power station, operated by the Israel Electric Corporation in Ashkelon, carried out a successful rescue operation this Tuesday. They discovered a sea turtle that had been swept by seawater into the station's cooling system and, realizing the animal could not escape on its own, took immediate action.

Upon locating the turtle, the staff promptly shut down the relevant system and contacted the National Sea Turtle Rescue Center of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. While waiting for rescue teams, the employees kept the turtle in a shaded area, ensuring its body temperature remained stable. A volunteer from the 'HaShmartzavim' group later transported the turtle from the Nitzanim beach area to the rescue center in Michmoret for further treatment.

According to the Israel Electric Corporation, healthy sea turtles are typically strong enough to navigate water currents and avoid being swept into cooling systems. Therefore, such an occurrence almost always indicates that the animal was already wounded or weakened and in need of urgent assistance.

A comprehensive examination at the rescue center revealed that the animal is a young green sea turtle weighing 2.5 kilograms, which has been named 'Babchuk.' The Israel Nature and Parks Authority reported that the turtle is active and vital, though it will remain hospitalized for the near future to continue its recovery.

Authorities remind the public that if you encounter a wounded sea turtle or one in distress, you should report it immediately to their hotline at 3639*.