Rescued turtles to be released by ASR
On 10th October 2009, 10-year-old Ellie was holidaying with her family at the Sandon River and found a severely distressed green sea turtle stranded on a sandbank in the river.
This was the second turtle Elli had found there. In December 2008, Elli found a much larger green turtle at the same spot.
Sheldon (named by Ellie) was picked up by the crew from Ballina-based Australian Seabird Rescue and stayed at their sea turtle hospital for over six months before being transferred to Seaworld to swim in a larger pool.
The second time around Ellie and her family knew what to do and provided the turtle with first aid by placing a wet towel over its back and then drove it directly to the ASR Sea Turtle Hospital in Ballina.
This second turtle, named ‘Elli’ after her rescuer, was severely emaciated, suffering from an intestinal infection and would have died without treatment.
ASR is pleased to announce that after some months in care Elli the turtle has made a full recovery and is now prepared for release back into the wild. The proud rescuer, Ellie, will join ASR to help send the turtle Elli home.
Also to be released is Harriet, a Hawksbill turtle found on Fingal Beach on 19th October last year.
Hawksbill turtles are an endangered species around the world, nearly hunted to extinction by the late 1960s for their unique shell, known as Tortoise shell.
Harriet was a victim of plastic debris, a piece of nylon rope that become lodged in her intestine, causing gas to build up in the body cavity, a debilitating condition that causes a slow and painful death by starvation.
After a month in intensive care Harriet was able to pass the piece of plastic and the gas that was causing her to float, and has been slowly gaining weight and fitness.
Although they were rescued many miles apart they will both be released at Main beach, Byron Bay on Friday.
Keith Williams, ASR General Manager, said: “We can’t be sure where Elli or Harriet originally came from; it is likely they were floating helplessly on ocean currents for some time before being stranded.
“However, Julian Rocks is part of a superb protected Marine Park and an ideal place for Elli and Harriet to be released. We are all very excited to see them being returned to the sea.”
