Avalon, an endangered Hawksbill sea turtle that washed up on Avalon Beach in November 2020, has been nursed back to health and was recently released in Port Stephens.
Now weighing more than 13 kilograms, Avalon was extremely malnourished at 3.8 kilograms when it was discovered struggling to forage for food nearly two years ago. She had barnacles and algae growth on her, which suggested that she was on adrift for quite some time.
The turtle was placed under an intensive care program with SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Curatorial Supervisor Ben Wynand and his team. She became healthy, strong and fit for release.
As soon as Avalon was in the water, she swam with all her strength at Zenith Beach, a natural turtle habitat around the Shoal Bay headland.
Also rescued and released at Port Stephens were Cutler and Warnie, a pair of Loggerhead Sea Turtles found in Victoria. The experts said that Cutler and Warnie suffered from Floater Syndrome, which prevented them from going underwater due to their buoyancy.
Sea Life Aquarium curator Laura Simmons said that they decided to bring the turtles to Zenith Beach as it had the perfect condition for Avalon, Cutler and Warnie to thrive.
Ms Simmons believes that the turtles could remain in Port Stephens for some time if there is great food and the water temperature is ideal. But turtles tend to travel a lot thus Avalon and the other turtles could be in Queensland’s water up north in no time.
Turtles wash up on the beach for many reasons but some have been unable to swim because they’ve gotten sick from ingesting plastic.
