Three-legged turtle rescued at Lucien beach
The turtle was very large, weighing in at 126 kg.
Reports of a large green turtle floundering on the rocks at Lucien beach last Sunday attracted the immediate attention of the KwaZulu-Natal Marine Stranding Network.
Ray Nkonyeni Municipality lifeguards rescued the turtle and placed it safely on the beach.
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NSRI Station 20 (Shelly Beach) responded and secured the animal and the area.
The turtle was very large, weighing in at 126 kg.
It had only three flippers, with the fourth nothing more than a stump, possibly the result of an old injury.
The lethargic animal was transported to uShaka Sea World for further health assessments.
In an interesting twist, marine ecologist Jennifer Olbers said the turtle had been recognised as possibly the same animal sighted regularly in the Mzimkhulu River in Port Shepstone for a number of years.
“Videos and pictures of that turtle will be compared with this one,” she added.
The KZN Marine Stranding Network thanks the lifeguards, Sea Rescue Shelly Beach, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, SPCA Lower South, uShaka Sea World, Wolf Security and members of the public for assisting with the rescue.
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