A female sea turtle given the name "Karin" who was hit by a yacht in October was due to be released back into wild at Israel's Habonim Beach on Friday after being nursed back to health at the Israeli Sea Turtle Rescue Center.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Karin weighs 24 kilograms (53 pounds). She is named after Karin Goren, who found her, wounded, while sailing toward Tel Aviv on a yacht. Goren said that she and her fellow passengers had spotted a few sea turtles near Haifa. Most of them had dived out of the way as soon as the yacht approached, but Karin (the turtle) was unable to follow, which caused the humans to worry.
Video: Olga Ribek/Israel Nature and Parks Authority
The owners of the yacht pulled the turtle on board, and reported the wounded animal to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Nahshon Marine Construction Ltd. sent out a small boat to rendezvous with the yacht, picked up Karin the turtle, and brought her to the rescue center for veterinary attention.
"We think she was hit by a sailing vessel, which tore one of her lungs," staff at the center aid.
"The tear created an air bubble that prevented the lung from returning to its natural shape. It constricted and wasn't functioning. After Dr. Tzachi Eisenberg from the Kol Chai clinic diagnosed her using a CT machine, we managed to identify the size and shape of the bubble and suction it out," staff explained.
Another female sea turtle, "Lola," arrived at the Israeli Sea Turtle Rescue Center last month after getting snared in two fishing nets at Achziv Beach.
The fisherman reported the incident to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and a local family that volunteers with the national sea turtle rescue effort brought her into the center. The family's daughters, ages 11 and eight, named her.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
