This is the moment a huge endangered green sea turtle is rescued from an “improvised” restaurant where it was reportedly on the menu and available to be eaten.
The video, filmed in the district of La Boquilla in the northern Colombian port city of Cartagena, was shared on social media by the local authorities who said that the turtle was 90 centimetres (three feet) long and weighed about 50 kilogrammes (110 lbs).
Video Credit: CEN/@PoliciaCtagena
The marine animal was confirmed as a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), considered endangered by the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
According to local media, the police were informed of the incident by residents who spotted the huge turtle in the courtyard of the house which also acts as an improvised restaurant.
It is unclear if the authorities consider the venue to be illegal.
Police spokesperson Misael Ortiz said: “We have checked the turtle and it has two injuries on its flippers apparently caused by fishermen.”
Meanwhile, community leader Hernando Ortega said: “I would advise residents not to eat green turtles as they are an endangered species.”
The police are investigating the fishermen and the owners of the ‘improvised’ restaurant, according to local media.
Reports said that the rescued turtle has since been transferred to an aquarium in the Colombian region of the Rosario Islands for further checks before being released back into the wild.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub-Editor: Alex Cope, Agency: Central European News
The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.
