A rare violet stingray (Pteroplatytrygon violacea), an uncommon visitor to the waters of Torrevieja, was rescued on Monday after becoming stranded alive on a rocky stretch of coastline.
The alarm was raised through emergency line 112, prompting a swift response from the Environmental Unit of the Torrevieja Local Police (UMAT). Upon arrival, officers coordinated with specialists from the Oceanogràfic’s ARCA del Mar and the Torrevieja City Council’s Department of the Environment to determine the best course of action. Given the species’ delicate nature and the limited veterinary knowledge available, experts agreed to attempt a direct release.
The rescue proved challenging. According to Crónicas Naturales de Torrevieja, the violet stingray is a species about which little is known regarding medical intervention, making every step of the operation critical. With the added help of members of the Real Club Náutico de Torrevieja, UMAT agents carefully freed the animal from the rocks and guided it back into open water.
In the end, the operation succeeded: the stingray re-entered the sea and swam away normally, giving hope for its full recovery.
