Israel Nature and Parks Authority announced on Thursday that Israeli conservationists have released three hawksbills turtles into Red Sea as part of an effort to restore the population of this critically endangered species.

Three females, who were raised in an underwater observatory near Eilat (a port city on the northern tip the Red Sea), were released after they reached maturity.

The shells of each turtle were fitted with satellite transmitters so that their movements could be tracked by the public and viewed on the Wildlife Computers website.

One of the turtles, shortly after swimming from shore and possibly in search of a snack, was seen stopping at a coral. According to the authority for nature and parks, they are omnivorous and have a preference for soft corals and sea sponges.

"We need to know how a turtle who has spent its entire life in captivity will survive in the wild." Aviv Levy, of Eilat’s Underwater Observatory Marine Park.

The World Wildlife Fund classifies Hawksbill Turtles as "critically threatened". The World Wildlife Fund says that they help maintain healthy corals reefs by removing sponges and other prey from the surface of the reef, allowing fish better access to feed.

The species is on the verge of extinction due to encounters with ships and fishing nets. The shells of these animals have also been harvested. (Written by Ari Rabinovitch, edited by Diane Craft.

(source: Reuters)