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.
The turtle has been in intensive care after it was found on a beach with the terrible injuries to its shell and head.
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.
The male turtle had a deep incision on the front right-hand side of its shell.
Marine Wild Watch duty officer Daniel Low Choy, who took part in the rescue operation, said the turtle suffered a catastrophic injury.
‘It was a significant impact strike,” he said. ‘There wasn’t a lot of blood but parts of the shell were cut up. ‘It was severely injured.’
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