Labuan fishing enthusiast rescues stranded hawksbill turtle

LABUAN - A casual day out for Sidi Yusuf@Sidi Gambus ended up in a surprise of sorts when he rescued a stranded hawksbill sea turtle in a shallow stream in Kg Tanjung Aru Nelayan here on Wednesday.

Sidi, a government retiree, was alone when he started beach fishing there around 6am, and as he returned around noon, he saw turtle, estimated to weight about 20 kilogrammes, trapped in sandy mud.

"I immediately lifted the turtle which was about three feet long, I could barely lift it as it was quite heavy.

"I believe the turtle had been there overnight and was unable to swim back to the sea due to the shallow water,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.

Sidi said the turtle seemed exhausted and must have been stuck for hours without food before he released it back to the sea.

The Labuan marine park of Kuraman Island and Rusukan Besar Island are the homes for hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys Imbricata), olive-ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) and green turtles (Chelonia Mydas),

Tanjung Aru Nelayan beach has been among the popular beaches for turtle landings in previous years. - BERNAMA