He was encrusted with barnacles – but people removed them one by one.
Fishermen recently came across an unusual sight off the coast of Tasmania – a large loggerhead sea turtle in dire need of assistance.
Despite his size – weighing in at approximately 220 pounds – the turtle appeared weak and unresponsive, unable to dive into the water. The numerous barnacles covering his body indicated that he had been ill for some time.
“Marine turtles are not often seen in Tasmanian waters, and this one appeared to be in a bad condition,” wrote Marine Conservation Program (MCP), a government organization that rescued the turtle after the fishermen caught him and brought him in for assistance.
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According to MCP, the turtle was provided with temporary shelter at a fish market for the night and was taken for a veterinary examination the following day.
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The veterinarians conducted X-rays to determine if the turtle had swallowed any fishing gear or plastic, as loggerhead turtles are known to mistake plastic bags for jellyfish. Fortunately, this turtle had not ingested any harmful objects.
The rescuers then administered fluids to help strengthen the turtle and carefully removed each of the barnacles attached to its body.
When the turtle starts to recover, MCP will make a decision about what to do with him. But at the moment, he’s simply resting.