An endangered green sea turtle rescued by a diver from the Australian Seabird Rescue Central Coast (AASRCC) has been released back into the ocean after a month of rehab.
The turtle named Nellie was found looking unwell in Cabbage Tree Bay in Manly in mid-April and after being rescued and undergoing a health check, the team found she had a heavy barnacle load and fluid under her shell.
Nellie was taken care of by ASRCC Co-ordinator, Robert Olive, who gave Nellie the TLC she needed to be released at Shelly Beach in Manly on Sunday, May 16.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) provided critical resources including a heater to help with her rehabilitation.
Heaters are crucial to a sea turtle’s recovery because, being reptiles, they require warmer water temperatures to increase their immunity.
The heaters also allow for the temperature to be stabilised and, when the turtle is ready, to be slowly decreased to match ocean temperature.
Olive said it is a “bittersweet moment” releasing them back into the ocean.
“We are sad to see them leave because you do grow attached but it’s heart-warming seeing them back in the ocean where they belong,” Olive said.
“Because green sea turtles are an endangered species it’s even more important for them to get back out there so they can hopefully breed.”
IFAW Oceania Animal Rescue Officer, Nicole Rojas Marin, said they joined the ASRCC team for Nellie’s release.
“It was truly a heart-warming moment to see Nellie so excited to get back to the ocean where she belongs,” Marin said.
“Sea turtles are up against a lot – with pollution from plastics, oil spills and fishing lines and climate change, so Nellie’s successful rescue, rehabilitation and release is so crucial for the future of her species.”
Source: Media release, May 23, IFAW Australia