GOLDIE is one lucky turtle. Found on a beach in Golden Bay early last month, she was a long way from home.
Native to Monkey Mia and Shark Bay, more than 900km north of Rockingham, the Green Sea turtle had been swept down the coast by storms and the Leeuwin current.
Naragebup Rockingham Environment Centre Marine and Reptile supervisor Richard Bader said she was in bad condition when she was found by a nearby resident who brought her to the centre for treatment.
“These turtles are from a warm water climate, so when they are sometimes pulled down the coast they don’t fare too well with the colder water temperatures,” Mr Bader said.
“When she came in she had ‘floating turtle syndrome’, meaning she had a gas build-up inside her and couldn’t dive or swim properly and therefore couldn’t eat.
“So we took her to the Rockingham vet, who generously donated medical goods and within 10 days we started to see some improvements.”
Now, more than a month later, she is almost ready for release.
Mr Bader said Goldie had become a character at the centre.
“She likes to come out and play up a bit; very much a show pony,” he said.
The centre is contacting the Department of Environment and Conservation in three weeks time to organise how the turtle should be returned to the wild.