Olive Ridley Turtle After Being Freed from Fishing Net | Lepidochelys olivacea

Female olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) recovering at the surface after being cut free from entanglement in a very large ghost fishing net in the Indian Ocean. After we cut the lines and released her, she swam toward me, letting me stroke her shell as she regained her composure. Her swimming was weak, particularly her rear left flipper, which had been the most entangled part of her body. She was eventually able to dive beyond visible depth.

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Filename: olive-ridley-turtle-after-being-freed-from-fishing-net-201502-0733.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 5103x3402 / 27.3MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Turtle Animalia Chordata Reptilia Testudines Cheloniidae Olive Ridley Turtle Lepidochelys olivacea CITES Appendix 1 Vulnerable: IUCN Red List Entanglement Indian Ocean Sri Lanka
Contained in galleries: Marine Life | Sri Lanka, Garbage and Trash

Female olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) recovering at the surface after being cut free from entanglement in a very large ghost fishing net in the Indian Ocean. After we cut the lines and released her, she swam toward me, letting me stroke her shell as she regained her composure. Her swimming was weak, particularly her rear left flipper, which had been the most entangled part of her body. She was eventually able to dive beyond visible depth.