A turtle has washed up on the beach in Torrevieja with remnants of a helium balloon inside.

The veterinary team at the Oceanogràfic Foundation is keeping the turtle under intensive care after extracting part of the object.

A sea turtle of the species Caretta caretta remains admitted to the ARCA del Mar marine wildlife recovery center of the Oceanogràfic of Valencia, after appearing last Friday on the beach of Torrevieja with remnants of a helium balloon inside.

The animal, very weak and with remnants of the balloon sticking out of its mouth and cloaca, showed signs of malnutrition and infection.

The warning call to 112 immediately activated the protocol of the Valencian Community’s Stranding Network. A team from the Oceanogràfic Foundation traveled to the area and transported the animal to Valencia in an operation that was supported by the Lifeguard Service, the Torrevieja City Council, and the Royal Yacht Club.

Once at ARCA del Mar, the veterinary team performed diagnostic tests, clinical analyses, and ultrasounds. During the evaluation, part of the balloon could be extracted, although part of the plastic tape remains inside the animal, waiting for it to be expelled naturally.

“The turtle arrived very thin, dehydrated, and unable to feed itself. The balloon had caused a serious internal infection,” explains Borja Yebras, from the Oceanogràfic Foundation. “We are treating it with specific medication, fluids, and controlled feeding. It is in a delicate state and under constant monitoring.”

The case reflects a growing problem in the marine environment, such as the presence of plastic waste, which many animals mistake for food.

“Releasing a balloon may seem like an innocent gesture, but these objects end up in nature and can be a deadly trap for many species,” the Foundation reminds us.