Man caught with 59 specimens of rare valuable species in his suitcase, claims he didn't know it was illegal; Foreign Ministry reportedly working to improve detention conditions

Numbers point to 'no less than an environmental emergency,'; all dead turtles subjected to autopsy had plastic in digestive tracts

Marine animals who suffered major injuries went through months of rehabilitation at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center north of Tel Aviv

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

Nature and Parks Authority gates off area after mother was disturbed a few months ago, says species needs a clean, quiet beach to lay eggs

Upon encountering an animal or eggs, beachgoers are urged to call inspectors, keep others away until they arrive

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

Having possibly swum all the way from India, female seen mating with hawksbill turtle, also a rare visitor to Gulf of Eilat

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

Volunteers help clean up swath of coastline that is a nesting site for turtles, as officials say pollution could continue washing up for months