5 days ago
Injured sea turtle rescued after being thrown from boat
SUNGAI BESAR: An injured sea turtle was rescued after it was thrown overboard by fishermen when it became entangled in a net near the Bagan Sungai Besar jetty in Selangor.
Witnesses said the turtle was tossed from a boat and later found by members of the public near a sluice gate in Sungai Besar.
Selangor Fisheries Department director Noraisyah Abu Bakar said her team rushed to the scene and provided initial care to the 22kg marine animal.
The olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), estimated to be 10 years old, had minor injuries on both flippers.
"Witnesses reported that the turtle had been out of the water for some time, based on its weakened condition," she said when contacted.
Noraisyah added that the species is a rare sight in Selangor, as the state's coast is not a natural nesting ground.
However, its waters serve as a transit route for sea turtles.
The turtle has since been sent to the Segari Turtle Conservation and Information Centre in Perak for further treatment and monitoring before being released back into the wild.
Noraisyah thanked the public for their concern and urged continued cooperation in protecting endangered marine species.
"Anyone who comes across threatened species — including turtles, dugongs, or dolphins such as the Indo-Pacific humpback, Irrawaddy dolphin, or finless porpoise — should report it to the nearest Fisheries Department office," she said.
