Israeli sea turtles get helping hand

Marine biologist Yaniv Levy tends to a loggerhead turtle covered with barnacles at the sea turtle rescue center in Mikhmoret, Israel, Sept. 15, 2013.

From transplanting turtle nests during the nesting season to protected beaches, through the rescue and treatment of wounded turtles brought in by fishermen or washed up on Israel's shores, to the development of a long-range breeding program for the threatened green turtles, the volunteers and staff of the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority are doing their best to protect the creatures.

The numbers have dwindled in the Mediterranean to an estimated 450 nesting female green turtles and about 2,500 nesting female loggerheads.

Far removed from man-made obstacles and protected from their natural predators such as crabs, foxes and birds, the hatchlings make their race to the sea with the hope that more than 20 years later they will return to the same beach to ensure the species survival.

All photos taken on Sept. 15, 2013

Israeli marine biologist Yaniv Levy holds a loggerhead turtle hatchling after it came of of its nest at a protected hatchery near his sea turtle rescue center, Sept. 15, 2013.

Israeli marine biologist Yaniv Levy blows sand off a loggerhead turtle hatchling after it came from its nest at a protected hatchery near his sea turtle rescue center.

A loggerhead turtle hatchling reaches the Mediterranean Sea after emerging from its nest at a protected hatchery in Mikhmoret.

Volunteers at the sea turtle rescue center tend to an injured loggerhead turtle.

A blind green turtle in its pool at the sea turtle rescue center where the breeding stock of green turtles undergoes a weekly washing and weighing.

Volunteers at the sea turtle rescue center tend to an injured loggerhead turtle.

A loggerhead turtle hatchling races for the Mediterranean Sea after leaving its nest at a protected hatchery in Mikhmoret.

A green turtle is being washed in a pool at the sea turtle rescue center where the breeding stock of Green turtles undergoes a weekly washing and weighing.

Israeli marine biologist Yaniv Levy swims near a loggerhead turtle hatchling after it came of of its nest at a protected hatchery.

A loggerhead turtle hatchling races for the Mediterranean Sea after it came of of its nest at a protected hatchery.

A loggerhead turtle hatchling races for the Mediterranean Sea after it emerged from its nest at a protected hatchery.

A loggerhead turtle hatchling races for the Mediterranean Sea after it came of of its nest at a protected hatchery.

A blind green turtle in its pool at the sea turtle rescue center where the breeding stock of green turtles undergoes a weekly washing and weighing.

Marine biologist Yaniv Levy tends to a loggerhead turtle covered with barnacles at the sea turtle rescue center in Mikhmoret.

A green turtle is measured by a volunteer at the sea turtle rescue center where the breeding stock of green turtles undergoes a weekly washing and weighing.

A blind green turtle swims in its pool at the sea turtle rescue center.

Volunteers at the sea turtle rescue center tend to injured loggerhead turtles.

A green turtle is measured by a volunteer at the sea turtle rescue center.

Visitors observe a loggerhead turtle at the sea turtle rescue center in Mikhmoret.

A green turtle is measured by a volunteer at the sea turtle rescue center.

A green turtle is washed by a volunteer at the sea turtle rescue center.

A green turtle swims in its pool at the sea turtle rescue center.

A green turtle is weighed by volunteers at the sea turtle rescue center.

Marine biologist Yaniv Levy tends to a loggerhead turtle covered with Barnacles at the sea turtle rescue center.

A green turtle is washed by a volunteer at the sea turtle rescue center.

A loggerhead turtle covered with barnacles is seen at the sea turtle rescue center.

Volunteers at the sea turtle rescue center tend to an injured loggerhead turtle.

A green turtle eats in its pool at the sea turtle rescue center where the breeding stock of green turtles undergoes a weekly washing and weighing.

Volunteers at the sea turtle rescue center tend to injured loggerhead turtles.

Marine biologist Yaniv Levy tends to a loggerhead turtle covered with barnacles at the sea turtle rescue center.