A giant green sea turtle was released at Noosa Main Beach on Friday after being treated for a suspected soft shell disease at Australia Zoo.
A team of volunteers from Wildlife Noosa carried the 150kg green sea turtle named Barnacles to the water, with excited beach-goers swarming to catch a glimpse of the 70-year-old beauty.
Wildlife Noosa volunteer Jarrah Small said it was a memorable moment.
“It’s not very often that you see an 150kg turtle released at Noosa Main Beach,“ Jarrah said.
“It’s an amazing experience. She’s a massive old girl.“
Jarrah grew up surrounded by the ocean, parks and wildlife, and assists on wildlife rescues with her mum Mel.
“The team at Wildlife Noosa went out and rescued the two turtles and brought both of them to Australia Zoo where they were treated and cared for by the amazing veterinary team,“ she said.
Wildlife Noosa chief rescue officer and founder Will Watson said Barnacles was rescued from Rainbow Beach with another turtle named Clay.
“They had a shell disease, so they were treated with antibiotics,“ Will said.
Will began rescuing wildlife around Noosa several years ago when he returned home to help his ageing parents after a serious car accident 12 years ago ended his career in land engineering.
Having always worked on the land and with a love for animals, Will began rescuing sick and injured wildlife and now rescues about 600 animals a year and growing.
“We have about 20 volunteers at the moment,“ Will said.
“With turtles, since we’re on the topic, please pick up your plastic and rubbish.
“There’s so many turtles with floating syndrome where they can’t dive. We’ve just got to pull plastic out of our oceans.“
Wildlife Noosa Ltd is a not-for-profit charity which undertakes rescues and the immediate care of all animals, (including domestic pets and livestock), that are ill, injured or at risk of injury in the greater Noosa region.
Get in touch via phone on 0419 046 999 for all rescues.
