If this turtle looks a little sorry for itself it has good reason – after suffering horrific injuries in a suspected collision with a boat.
Luckily the 100kg creature is now making a good recovery after vets at the Animal Ark Hospital in Darwin, Australia, inserted huge stitches to clamp its deep wounds together.
Casualty: A gigantic green turtle is in intensive care after it was found on Wagait Beach with sections of its shell cut after it was believed to have been struck by a boat
Care: Ark Animal Hospital vet Tess Cooper cares for the severely injured 100kg green reptile at Animal Ark Hospital, in Darwin, Australia
Surgery: The male turtle had a deep incision on the front right-hand side of its shell and needed emergency surgery to repair it
Marine Wild Watch rangers helped rescue the turtle after a passer-by spotted the stricken creature and raised the alarm.
Hurt: Marine Wild Watch duty officer Daniel Low Choy, part of the rescue operation, said the turtle was ‘severely damaged’ during the incident
Recovering: The turtle suffered wounds to its shell and the top of its head when it was struck
Treatment: Its wounds were clamped together by vets so that they could heal. Specialists are keeping their fingers crossed that the turtle makes a full recovery