A large sea turtle, estimated to be at least 30 years old and more than 50 kilograms, is recovering in a wildlife sanctuary after being found stranded upside down on the New South Wales north coast.
A resident, Anthony Sharkey, was driving along Urunga North Beach, near a river entrance, when he noticed a female turtle on her back in the dunes.
At first glance, he thought the huge turtle was dead.
“I gave her a little rub on the side of the cheek, and she turned her head around to me,” he said.
Mr Sharkey turned the turtle over and called the Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary, which quickly dispatched a team to rescue it.
“I think she’s really lucky because I honestly think she’d been there three or four days on her back, after the big seas from the week before, which must have washed her up in there amongst all the sticks and logs,” Mr Sharkey said.
“It was good to help … they are awesome creatures when you are up close to them.”
The turtle was transported over the beach in the back of a ute, before being taken to the wildlife sanctuary. (Supplied: Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary)
Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary volunteer rescuer Judy Bartholomew was among the team that responded to the call on April 1.
“There were some lovely people minding the turtle and keeping her wet, which was really important … she didn’t look very well at all,” Ms Bartholomew said.
She said the female turtle, which has been nicknamed Ozzy, weighed in at 52 kilograms, with a shell length of 83 centimetres, and her size made the rescue more challenging.
“It did take three guys to get her into the back of the ute,” she said.
‘Ozzy’ the turtle started to revive after being placed in a recovery tank. (ABC Coffs Coast: Claire Simmonds)
“Once we got to the sanctuary, we had a specialised sling we could put under her and have four people carry her into the sanctuary.
“She was popped into a freshwater recovery tank to help rehydrate her — she was very dehydrated — and she started to revive a bit, which was fantastic.”
Time to recover
Tiga Cross, managing director of Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary, said the turtle was suffering from floating syndrome, a condition where trapped gas prevented turtles from diving properly, which in turn impacted their ability to feed.
Tiga Cross says the turtle was likely suffering from floating syndrome. (ABC Coffs Coast: Claire Simmonds)
“She was in really good body condition, so it means she hasn’t been sick for too long … but we did notice her eyes were very swollen and dry, and she was floating when we put her in fresh water,” Ms Cross said.
“She is looking much better now … we have started offering food … it might take a few days for her to get the strength up to eat again.”
‘Ozzy’ is expected to be at the sanctuary for around six months to resolve the gas build-up and allow her to regain strength.
“With a turtle of her size, I think we will be looking at a December release for her, as we need to get through winter,” Ms Cross said.
Ms Cross said there were two other large turtles also currently being rehabilitated at the sanctuary.
The female turtle weighed in at more than 50 kilograms. (Supplied: Anthony Sharkey)
“At the sanctuary, typically two per cent of the turtles we rescue are of this size; for us to have three of this size at the moment is almost unheard of,” she said.
“It is so beautiful and unique to see them this close at this age … this is a 30- or 40-year-old turtle.
“To have the privilege of helping her through this journey and then to hopefully allow her the opportunity to breed is very vital for the species.”