A 94-KILOGRAM green turtle has been returned to Moreton Bay more than 18 months after she was found tangled in a crab pot with a flipper torn off.
Beau was rescued near Macleay Island on Boxing Day in 2017 by Redland Bay Coast Guard volunteers after a concerned boatie saw her struggling and called for help.
Beau had a bone protruding where her front left flipper had been. It took four men to get the turtle, who was then 89 kilograms, out of the water.
On Tuesday, the turtle, at almost a metre long, was released into sea grass beds near Dunwich by Sea World's rehabilitation team.
Sea World's sea turtle rehabilitation leading hand Siobhan Houlihan said that turtle amputees could survive in the wild.
"They are remarkable at adapting and having three flippers is likely to have little or impact on Beau's normal life cycle," she said.
While the team receives between 30 and 40 turtles a year, only a few of the many turtles that become tangled in fishing gear and crab pots are as lucky as Beau.
Soon after her rescue Beau had surgery to remove the bone protruding from her shoulder joint.
"She very quickly learned to swim with three flippers," Ms Houlihan said. "It is amazing how quick turtles are at adapting.
It took a long time for Beau's wound to heal but after 19 months the veterinarian gave the all clear for her release.
Sea World's turtle rehab team including a diver took Beau to the sea grass beds to be released, inviting Redland Bay Coast Guard volunteers to watch on.
Coast Guard rescuer David Bell said it was an honour to watch the release on a picture perfect day with gentle winds and a beautiful sky for a backdrop.
"She swam around a little, took a breath near to the boats and looked around, before heading off," Mr Bell said.
Mr Bell said that when Beau was taken from the Redland Bay Coast Guard base after her rescue the volunteers feared that she would not survive.
He said it was a timely reminder about the damage that fishing lines, crab pots and boats could do to wildlife.
"Please take care on the water and remember that we share the environment with these beautiful creatures," Mr Bell said.
Ms Houlihan said that injured wildlife should be reported via 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625).
Read more local news here.
