A loggerhead sea turtle, a true giant among Adriatic sea turtles, was washed ashore by strong Bura winds between Karin and Pridraga near Novigrad below Velebit mountain
Although stranded, the giant was alive and well, while veterinarian Marino Mirčeta soon established its age at over a hundred years, Slobodna Dalmacija reported on January 9, 2017.
“The sea often beaches such sea turtles and I take care of them, they are endangered, but never in my life have I ever seen such a large loggerhead sea turtle. We simply didn’t have a bin large enough for her, nor could I have taken it to the clinic as it wouldn’t fit through the door. Eight men were necessary to lift it up and bring it to my backyard,” said Mirčeta, stating the turtle was unharmed.
“My task was to medically care for it until experts arrived from Pula, who will transport it to their Centre for Endangered Animal Species. I found some injuries on it, bite marks on the shell, but they are at least ten years old. The animal needed to get warm, but no injuries despite the ordeal it went through,” explained the vet.
The experts arriving from Pula also had no bin large enough, but a van in which the back section is waterproof, like a pool.
The loggerhead sea turtle, named Melita by Mirčeta, was transported to safety, in the hands of experts and to a space large enough for its imposing size and with enough comfort for her age.
See the video from Croatian Television:
