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Seriously injured rare hawksbill turtle found on Danang beach

A rare hawksbill sea turtle has been found on a beach in the central city of Danang, suffering from severe injuries.

Seriously injured rare hawksbill turtle found on Danang beach - 1

The seriously injured rare hawksbill turtle is being monitored.

According to Le Chien, head of the Sasa Marine Animal Rescue Team in Danang, a staff member of a local hotel discovered the hawksbill sea turtle on the beach in Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District.

After being informed by the Education for Nature-Vietnam (ENV), the Sasa Marine Animal Rescue Team quickly took care of the animal.

The 1.7 kilogrammed hawksbill turtle has lost its front left and rear right flippers. Chien said its other flipper was severely injured, with exposed bones and deep cuts in the flesh, suspected to have been caused by entanglement in a fishing net.

Seriously injured rare hawksbill turtle found on Danang beach - 2

X-ray results indicated that the animal suffered no injuries in other areas but a considerable amount of debris in its digestive system.

The wounds have been disinfected, but the turtle remains weak and needs further monitoring. It will undergo surgery to remove the necrotic tissue when its condition improves.

Chien noted that the exposed flipper is likely irreparable, and the critical issue now is whether the front right flipper can be restored so that the turtle can return to the wild.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the hawksbill sea turtle as critically endangered.