Turtle returned to sea after boat hit and crocodile attack

Updated
Turtle returned to sea after boat hit and crocodile attack
Turtle returned to sea after boat hit and crocodile attack



A 'tenacious' turtle who survived a boat collision and a crocodile attack has been returned to the ocean after an incredible recovery.

Green sea turtle Izzy, who is around 40 years old, was found in Bowen, in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, suffering with dehydration and 'floating syndrome'

She was taken to the Reef HQ Aquarium Turtle Hospital where she has spent the last 15 months being nursed back to health, reports the Daily Telegraph.



Aquarist Krystal Huff told ABC News: "Pretty much everything that can go wrong with a turtle had happened for poor old Izzy.

"The boat strike and the croc bite had both put injuries through [Izzy's] shell which was allowing bacteria to get into her body.

"She was quite unwell so she got a course of antibiotics."

She added that floating syndrome is the most common ailment seen in the turtles who come to the hospital.

"It can be caused by a few different things," Krystal said.

"They might eat something bad that then blocks up their gut and causes gas to build up and then they float - which is what we think happened in Izzy's case - or sometimes they could have problems with their lungs.

"Turtles can actually get pneumonia and they could have a lung collapse.

"To see Izzy floating is pretty common. As for the croc bite that's not very common at all and as for the boat strike that's probably somewhere between those two things."

Another turtle, called Evie, who has been at the centre for five months was also released back into the sea at Bowen.

Around 300 people came to see the two turtles being sent off, and pictures of the event were posted on Reef HQ's Facebook page.

Post by Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium.


A satellite tracker was also placed on Izzy's shell before her release so her movements can be monitored.

Post by Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium.


You can follow Izzy's progress here.





Related articles

Five turtles released back into the sea after huge beach clean-up

Two-headed turtle discovered in America

Boy, 8, tries to smuggle pet turtle on plane in his pants

Advertisement