Exmouth turtle to be released back into wild after months of rehabilitation

A much-loved rescue turtle is set to be released back into her natural habitat after months of rehabilitation.

Cam, a juvenile green sea turtle, was found floating by locals near Bundegi Beach north of Exmouth.

The Shire of Exmouth said she was found with Floater’s Syndrome, in which a build-up of gas under the shell makes the turtle unable to dive down to rest or feed.

The shire, along with the Ningaloo Aquarium Discovery Centre, was able to nurse the turtle back to health after she came into care in June underweight at nearly 6.5kg.

Through behaviour monitoring and a round of antibiotics, it was discovered she had eaten something she wasn’t able to digest, causing compaction in her digestive tract which led to the gas building up.

The gas was removed from her body over the past few months and Cam was brought back to a healthy weight and appetite.

The turtle also has a missing rear flipper, which the shire believed could have been an injury as a hatchling but does not affect her ability to live.

Staff will release Cam back into the wild at Town Beach at 12.30pm on Wednesday, October 2.