Kind Aquarium Workers Save Young Sea Turtle’s Life by Removing Barnacles Covering Its Entire Body

The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi team rescued a sea turtle covered in barnacles. The barnacle removal process was captured in a now-viral video. The aquarium emphasizes the importance of professional help in such rescues.

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Rescue of a Sea Turtle

Almost all sea turtle species are classified as threatened or endangered under the IUCN Red List.

That’s why helping a turtle is not only the compassionate thing to do, but it’s also important for the future of these creatures.

Luckily, the team at The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi are doing just that.

They recently shared how they helped a sea turtle covered in barnacles, saving its life.

As we’ve previously seen, barnacles may seem small and insignificant, but they can cause great damage to the turtles.

They can add weight and block their eyes and nostrils, making it easier for predators to catch them.

The sea turtle assisted by the aquarium was barely moving, so they quickly got to work.

“Our team completed a full health assessment before beginning the barnacle removal,” they say in a now-viral video.

Barnacle Removal Process

In the video, a veterinarian can be seen slowly but steadily removing the barnacles, one by one.

Soon, the turtle’s shell recovers its dark green-gray shade.

While the places where the barnacles injured the turtle can be seen, the animal seems to be in good spirits, flapping its arms after being run under the water tap and tickled by the staff.

“Now that’s a real sign of positive energy,” they say.

The next step will be running further tests to identify any underlying conditions that led to the turtle being covered in barnacles.

“Barnacles often attach when a turtle is already sick or weak,” the aquarium explains.

And while it may be tempting to help a turtle like this if you ever encountered one, the team says that this has to be done by professionals as doing it carelessly can inflict more damage than good.

Ongoing Conservation Efforts

The team is no stranger to going the extra mile to help injured or distressed turtles.

Other videos show them helping various turtles, including one with a sliced shell, another with a massive cyst on its head, and yet another of rescued baby sea turtles being nurtured before they are released into the ocean.

The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi boasts one of the largest wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release programs in the Middle East.

“In partnership with Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi, our team rescues injured marine animals across the emirate.

To date, we have rescued, rehabilitated, and released more than 1,300 sea turtles back into the wild,” the aquarium shares in the comments.

To stay up to date with the heartfelt interventions and efforts from this organization, make sure to follow The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi on Instagram and TikTok.

If you’re ever in Abu Dhabi, you can also learn more about their labor by visiting the aquarium.

You can plan your visit on their website.