Rescued loggerhead sea turtle returns to Pacific after 7 years of care
Seven years ago, a badly injured loggerhead sea turtle washed ashore on the coast of Jeju Island, entangled in abandoned fishing gear and suffering from severe trauma to its flippers, shoulder and esophagus. Following an extraordinary long-term medical saga that involved seven major surgeries, the fully recovered marine creature will finally be released back into the wild Thursday. The Ministry…
Nearly a decade after it was found stranded on Jeju Island, a loggerhead sea turtle that had endured severe injuries will soon be returned to the Pacific Ocean. The marine creature, which suffered from extensive trauma to its flippers, shoulder and esophagus, was rescued in August 2019. Since then, the turtle has undergone seven major surgeries as part of an ambitious rehabilitation program led by Aqua Planet Jeju, a government-designated facility for marine wildlife.
The endangered species will be released from Gwangchigi Beach in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, a location selected for its safe and gentle environment. The turtle, which was initially anemic and had deep tissue lacerations upon arrival, required ongoing medical care to treat open wounds, remove debris, and combat recurring infections.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
