A local shrimper said he pulled up his line to find the sea turtle had been tangled in it.
A critically endangered sea turtle that had previously been caught in a Louisiana fisherman’s line is now being released back into the wild following months of grueling rehabilitation.
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“We were fishing just out of this corner over there, and when we went to pick up, there was a line twisted,” said local shrimper Bobby Aguillard. “As I was pulling it in, I noticed the black string. On the end of the black string was a turtle.”
He then reported the animal injured half-a-mile off shore, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, along with the Audubon’s Coastal Wildlife Network rescue center, intervened.
The rescue center’s Gabriella Vazquez said they administered a full test on the turtle, and determined he had a mouth and shoulder injury from the rope.
They then embarked on a lengthy rehabilitation program, where he was fed through a tube and given antibiotics and fluids.
During rehabilitation, they named him Raye.
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On Wednesday, Aguillard joined Vazquez’ team in releasing him back into the wild.
“Knowing this sea turtle can go swimming in these waters, I’m grateful,” he said in a statement.
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