Capture the first-level conservation class! A large "leather turtle" was accidentally caught by a fishing boat off the coast of Oysterliao, and a crane helped it return home

The Kaohsiung Zi official-registered fishing boat "Cheng Tinglong 1" accidentally caught a 218-centimeter-long leatherback turtle while operating off the coast of Haiziliao this morning. The captain took the turtle back to Haiziliao Fishing Port and notified the coast guard. Personnel assisted in the treatment. After preliminary inspection, it was found that the leatherback turtle had scratches on the top of its head, right forelimb, left hindlimb and tail, but its mobility was normal. At about 2 p.m., it was released about 3.2 miles west of Haiziliao.

The Marine Protection Agency pointed out that the leatherback turtle is the largest sea turtle species and is a pelagic migratory species. It is listed as a globally critically endangered first-level protected animal. Its main food is jellyfish. It is not common in Taiwan. In recent years, it has only been reported 9 times due to bycatch or stranding.

Leatherback turtles are not suitable to be kept in an artificial environment for a long time. In an artificial captive environment, they are prone to aggravated trauma due to continuous collision with the pool wall. At present, it is difficult to provide appropriate natural bait in the domestic holding environment. After the evaluation confirms that the leatherback turtle has the ability to survive in the wild, it must be released into the wild as soon as possible to improve its chances of survival.

The Southern Branch of the Coast Guard stated that the leatherback turtle was accidentally caught 4 miles off the coast of Oyziliao. It was measured at the site to be 218 centimeters long, 185 centimeters long and 102 centimeters wide on its carapace. After receiving the notification, coast patrol officers immediately contacted the Marine Conservation Department, and personnel from the Marine Conservation Department, Fisheries Department and Gao City Oceanographic Bureau came to the scene to assist. Considering the leatherback turtle's large size, a fish market crane was used on site to assist in hoisting and transporting it.

After personnel from the Marine Conservation Department and the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture completed a professional assessment, another fishing boat was commissioned to assist in transporting the leatherback turtle to a distance of about 3.2 miles off the coast of Oyziliao for safe release and return to the sea.