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Israel Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center

In this undated picture, Yaniv Levy (right), Director of the National Sea Turtle Rescue Center, in Yannai, central Israel, checks the health of a loggerhead sea turtle, helped by staff member Guy Ivgy. (Erez Ehrlichman, Israel Nature and Parks Authority)
January 24, 2026, 9:07 am
Marking a global first, Israel’s new Sea Turtle Rescue Center comes out of its shell
Complex with world’s only breeding group to open next month with guided tours that will showcase researchers’ efforts to stave off the animals’ extinction
By Sue Surkes
IMAGE: Palestinians inspect a car belonging to Hamas commander Raed Saad after it was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, December 13, 2025. (Fathi Ibrahim/Flash90)
December 14, 2025, 3:33 pm
Daily Briefing Dec. 14: Day 800 – Ceasefire tensions escalate after top Hamas commander is killed
Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman discusses phase 2 of Gaza truce, latest on Lebanon; reporter Sue Surkes reviews a desalination channel to the Sea of Galilee and sea turtle rehabilitation
By Jessica Steinberg, Lazar Berman and Sue Surkes
Tal Raz rescues a turtle ensnared in waste fishing tackle in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Bat Galim, northern Israel, earlier this year. (Haim Raz)
October 28, 2025, 6:20 pm
Drone fishing ‘a death trap’ for humans and marine wildlife, sea enthusiast warns
Northern Israeli diver, who rescued two sea turtles injured by abandoned fishing line this year, reports uptick in fishing waste in recent weeks
By Sue Surkes
Visitors can watch the feeding of sea turtles at Jerusalem's Israel Aquarium during the 2024-2025 winter months (Credit Maya Zerman)
November 10, 2024, 10:41 pm
Jerusalem’s aquarium invites visitors to spend the night
In addition to sleepovers, Israel Aquarium sports behind-the-scenes tours and two new exhibits
By Jessica Steinberg
Residents of Kibbutz Nir Am near the Gaza Strip relax off the coast of Tel Aviv on November 11, 2023, courtesy of The Coast Patrol and Partyacht. (Joseph Segal, The Coast Patrol)
November 15, 2023, 1:04 am
Marine patrol group brings displaced families aboard for R&R
Coast Patrol connects with Partyacht to give those evacuated from the Gaza and Lebanese border a whiff of boating freedom
By Sue Surkes
A sea turtle entangled in a polypropylene sack. (Shai Feldman)
September 18, 2022, 11:17 pm
Plastic waste responsible for 1 in 3 turtles brought to treatment center
Numbers point to ‘no less than an environmental emergency,’; all dead turtles subjected to autopsy had plastic in digestive tracts
By Sue Surkes
Green and brown sea turtles make their way to the Mediterranean Sea after being released by the Sea Turtle Rescue Center, run by the Israel National Nature and Parks Authority, in Beit Yanai beach, Friday, July 8, 2022 (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
July 8, 2022, 5:16 pm
Rescued sea turtles released back into the wild
Marine animals who suffered major injuries went through months of rehabilitation at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center north of Tel Aviv
By Oded Balilty
A turtle hatchling moves toward the sea from a nest protected within the Palmachim National Park on August 1, 2021. (Yaniv Cohen, Israel Nature and Parks Authority)
March 10, 2022, 6:27 pm
Sea turtle nest tallies surging along Israel’s beaches, report finds
For second year in row, nature authority says number of hatching sites nearly double annual average of five years prior, attributing rise to fishing bans, more monitoring
By Sue Surkes
Nature and Parks Authority staff treat a wounded dolphin at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center in Mikhmoret, June 12, 2021 (Yali Mivorakh/Israel Nature and Parks Authority)
June 12, 2021, 6:10 pm
Unwell dolphin found off coast of northern Israel dies despite rescue effort
Nature and Parks Authority took the animal for treatment, says it had breathing problems and appears to have been suffering from disease; also had bite marks on its tail
By ToI Staff
A female turtle fitted with a transmitter for research returns to the Mediterranean Sea. (Yaniv Levy, INPA)
May 25, 2021, 5:26 pm
A time to lay: With turtle egg season underway, public asked to help
Upon encountering an animal or eggs, beachgoers are urged to call inspectors, keep others away until they arrive
By Sue Surkes
Two dead dolphins found on Israel's Mediterranean coast await autopsy at the Morris Kahn Center for Marine Research, April 6, 2021. (Dr Aviad Sheinin)
April 6, 2021, 6:27 pm
Two dead dolphins, dead turtle wash up on Israeli shores
A second turtle badly hurt; in bittersweet day, National Sea Turtle Rescue Center celebrates release back to sea of two other loggerhead turtles nursed back to health
By Sue Surkes
Olive ridley turtle nesting on Escobilla Beach, Oaxaca, Mexico. (Claudio Giovenzana www.longwalk.it, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons)
March 12, 2021, 6:21 pm
In first, olive ridley turtle spotted off Eilat
Having possibly swum all the way from India, female seen mating with hawksbill turtle, also a rare visitor to Gulf of Eilat
By Sue Surkes
Yaniv Levy, Director of the National Sea Turtle Rescue Center in Michmoret, northern Israel, holds up one of six juvenile turtles being treated following an oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea, March 2, 2021. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
March 3, 2021, 6:54 pm
After surviving marine oil spill, young turtles heal with fish, mayo and love
21 sea turtles were brought to the National Sea Turtle Rescue Center, but most were already dead from tar; now the lucky remaining 6 are recovering alongside other injured turtles
By Sue Surkes
The Daily Briefing
February 24, 2021, 4:14 pm
PODCAST: Daily Briefing, Feb. 24 — Israel’s worst ecological disaster yet?
Tune in Sunday through Thursday to hear ToI editors and reporters quickly catch you up on what’s important today
By ToI Staff
A 6-month-old green sea turtle is cleaned from tar after an oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea; at Israel's Sea Turtle Rescue Center in Michmoret, Israel, February 23, 2021.(AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
February 23, 2021, 8:17 pm
In Israel, mayonnaise proves a miracle cure for tar-covered turtles
National Sea Turtle Rescue Center is treating nine endangered green sea turtles affected by devastating oil spill that coated Israel’s coast with thick black tar
By Ariel Schalit
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