Green Turtle Release

A 24 kg turtle was bought to Taronga Zoo’s Wildlife Hospital at the end of January after being found by local residents tangled in an anchor rope more than eight metres under the water. Although still very active, the turtle which was thought to be female also had a length of fishing line hanging out of its mouth and wrapped around its right front flipper.

An initial health check on arrival at Taronga Zoo’s Wildlife Hospital confirmed by x-ray that the turtle had swallowed a fishing hook which was deep down in the oesophagus, connected to a massive tangled ball of fishing line.

Taronga Zoo’s Senior Veterinarian, Larry Vogelnest, said: “Fishing debris like discarded or lost hooks, line, nets, sinkers can be lethal for marine animals. Not only can the line do irreparable damage as it moves through the body cavity but any attached fishing hooks can kill the animal.”

“Many marine animals also swallow rubbish such as plastic or rubber balloons which also cause impaction of the intestines and death. This is why it is so important we must dispose of used fishing equipment and rubbish responsibly,” said Larry.

The operation to remove the mass of line and hook was a lengthy one. It took nearly three hours to get the rubbish out of the Green Turtle through an incision in its neck, allowing Taronga’s expert veterinary team access to the oesophagus. The turtle was then placed in the Zoo’s intensive care unit and received on-going care, pain relief and antibiotics.

Slowly the turtle was introduced to Taronga’s rehabilitation pool and offered food. Now, just two months after the operation the turtle was released back into the open ocean much to the delight of Taronga staff and the local residents who hired a boat to watch her plunge back into the wild.

Green Turtles can live for 80 years and reach sexual maturity in their 30s.

There are seven species of marine turtles in the world and six occur in Australian waters. All six species have suffered population declines as a result of pollution, entanglement in fishing nets, swallowing plastic bags, depletion of food stocks, boat-related injuries, loss of shoreline breeding areas and egg being eaten by animals like foxes and dogs.

Marine turtles are recognised internationally as a species of conservation concern and are listed in the World Conservation Union Red List of Threatened Animals.