Data on strandings and behaviour of sea turtles in Tenerife and surveys in Wildlife Recovery centres.

There are currently numerous interactions between anthropogenic activities and wildlife. These
activities have caused a decline in sea turtle populations in recent decades. Spanish waters, both
on the mainland and on the islands, are staging grounds for these animals, which spend part of
their life cycle there, mainly for Caretta caretta. However, it is in these same waters where they
are threatened due to various causes of stranding. This study attempts to gain an in-depth
understanding of the different phases of the rehabilitation process of these animals at the WRC
"La Tahonilla" in Tenerife, Canary Islands. It also aims to learn about the development of this
process in the different rehabilitation centres aimed at recovering sea turtles on the mainland
and the Canary Islands. We have also studied in depth the process of dealing with a stranded
sea turtle in the Canary Islands, which do not have their own recovery centre.
The results of this study have revealed the existence of different
protocols for action between centres and islands. The improvement and unification of these
protocols is of vital importance to improve the rehabilitation of sea turtles in Spain.