Fisheries Dept rescues two turtles trapped in fishing net

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DUNGUN: The Fisheries Department has rescued two turtles, one of which was badly injured, trapped in a fishing
net at the Rantau Abang beach here.

The turtles were caught in a drift net and were washed ashore with the net during rough seas last week, said Abd Halim Mat Noor, head of the Turtle Conservation and Information Centre in Rantau Abang.

He said villagers found the reptiles, an Olive Ridley turtle and a Green turtle, and brought them to the centre, located about 400 metres away.

The Olive Ridley turtle had a badly injured left fore flipper and had been sent to the Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre (Tumec) in Rantau Abang for treatment, he said.

The unhurt Green turtle was released into the sea after an examination at Tumec, he added.

Abd Halim said the two turtles were young, between five and six years old, and weighed between 10 kg and 15 kg. — Bernama