Sick turtle sent to rescue centre by cab

In good hands: The rescued green turtle swimming at the Gaya Island Turtle Rescue Centre.

KOTA KINABALU: A green turtle suffering floater syndrome was rescued by nature lo­vers in Kudat, northern Sabah, who collectively paid RM350 to a taxi driver to take it to the Gaya Island Turtle Rescue Centre here.

The turtle was seen floating at Sabah’s northern tip of Simpang Mengayau in Kudat about 200km from the state capital.

Resort operators and workers helped rescue it before seeking help from the wildlife department. They pooled their money to pay for the taxi.

Wildlife Rescue Unit director Dr Sen Nathan, along with other personnel from the unit, were on hand to pick up the sick turtle in the state capital and transport it to the centre operated by a resort on the island.

He said experts at the centre were treating the turtle.

Floater syndrome prevents the marine animal from diving to feed and leaving it vulnerable to predators. Ingesting plastic is among causes of the condition.