A loggerhead sea turtle ahead of its release back into the wildMINISTRY OF OCEANS AND FISHERIES
A loggerhead sea turtle found badly injured by fishing gear on a Jeju beach seven years ago will be released back into the sea, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Wednesday.
The turtle will be released at Gwangchigi Beach in Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo, on Thursday.
It was first found on a beach in Seongsan-eup on Aug. 27, 2019. Fishing nets and gear had damaged the muscles in its right shoulder and its esophagus. It was also anemic and needed long-term treatment, according to the ministry.
Loggerheads, named for their large heads, are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and Korea designates them a protected marine species.
After the rescue, the turtle was taken to Aqua Planet Jeju, an aquarium that treats marine animals. It underwent seven surgeries to close wounds and remove inflamed tissue, and it became the first sea turtle to receive negative pressure wound therapy using specialized equipment.
Repeated flare-ups of inflammation in its shoulder and neck dragged out the treatment. In February, veterinarians removed the remaining inflamed tissue in a final surgery, after which the turtle’s health improved significantly.
A loggerhead sea turtle undergoes surgery.MINISTRY OF OCEANS AND FISHERIES
The ministry decided to release the turtle after judging it healthy enough to return to the wild. It chose Gwangchigi Beach because it is close to where the turtle was first rescued and because the beach's layout allows the turtle to make its own way from the sand to the water.
To minimize stress on the animal, the ministry will not attach a satellite tracker or an identification tag.
“I hope the loggerhead sea turtle lives a healthy life after returning to the sea,” said Seo Jeong-ho, head of the ministry’s ocean policy office. “We will continue to strengthen the protection system that connects rescue, treatment and return to the wild for stranded or injured marine animals.”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
