Nature lovers pay for sick turtle’s taxi fare from Kudat to Kota Kinabalu

The endangered green turtle suffering from "floaters syndrome" was rescued in Sabah's northern Kudat waters and is now being treated at the Gaya Island Turtle Rescue Centre.

KOTA KINABALU: A group of nature lovers in Kudat pooled money and paid for a taxi driver to bring an ill turtle to the Gaya Island Turtle Rescue Centre near here Saturday (June 1).

The turtle was brought to the centre at 3pm on Saturday after it was found to be unable to dive into the sea as it was suffering from "floaters syndrome", which also affects the turtle's appetite.

There is also a possibility that the turtle swallowed plastic.

It was initially found floating near Sabah's northern tip at Simpang Mengayau in Kudat, about 200km from Kota Kinabalu

Resort operators and workers helped rescue the ill turtle from the sea before deciding to seek help from the wildlife department here.

Sabah Wildlife Rescue Unit personnel, including the department’s assistant director Dr Sen Nathan, were on hand to help the turtle be transported to the centre operated by a resort on the island.

Dr Sen said that the experts at the rescue centre will begin treating the turtle and they were hoping for the best.