SUNGAI PETANI: Three fishermen today rescued an endangered Hawksbill turtle trapped between the mangroves roots at Sungai Emas Tengah in Kota Kuala Muda near here.
Mohamad Asri Mahmud, 23, said he spotted the brown coloured turtle at 3pm yesterday.
“I was catching crab along the river with two friends when I spotted the turtle was struggling to free itself from the roots.
"Its body was covered in mud and the turtle appeared weak as it was trapped in between the roots,” he said.
Asri brought the turtle home and fed it before handing it over to the Kedah Fisheries Volunteer (Super).
He believed that the 58.4cm turtle, weighing about 9kg, could have lost it's way before getting trapped inside the mangroves.
State Super chief Othman Yaakob said the Hawksbill turtle would be released back to its original habitat as it is an endangered species.
It is learnt that Hawksbill turtle can be found in tropical waters of Atlantic, Pacific and the Indian Oceans.
In Malaysia, Hawksbill turtle can be found in Turtle Island of Sabah with an average of between 500 and 600 nests each season and Malacca with between 200 and 300 nests per season.
Hakwsbill turtle could grow up to 114cm in length with maximum weight of about 68kg.