130kg Loggerhead Turtle Returns to Sea After Rehabilitation

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A loggerhead turtle weighing more than 286 pounds (130 kilograms) was released back into the sea off the coast of San Clemente del Tuyu, Argentina, on Wednesday, November 20, the Mundo Marino Foundation saidThe turtle spent three weeks being rehabilitated after a resident found it stranded on a beach in the town of Las Toninas on October 30.The adult male was the largest loggerhead turtle ever admitted to the Mundo Marino Foundation, weighing more than 286 pounds, with a shell of more than one meter in length.Juana Caferri, veterinarian at the Mundo Marino Foundation, said the animal was very weak when it arrived at the rescue center and had a wound on its shell.“It had not been eating for some time. We first proceeded to hydrate it subcutaneously with glucose solutions and salts. Then, once it was stabilized, we took a blood sample, which, although it showed normal blood parameters, showed a low level of glucose and proteins. These data confirmed that the animal was not eating,” Caferri said.The team administered antibiotics and anti-inflammatories and conducted X-rays and ultrasounds to rule out the presence of foreign elements inside.After 10 days of care, the animal started to eat on its own and was swimming adequately. The veterinary team at the rescue center then medically discharged the turtle.Footage released by the Mundo Marino Foundation shows the massive turtle making its way toward the ocean after being set down in the sand. Credit: Fundacion Mundo Marino via Storyful
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