Tulum, Q.R. — Tulum firemen were called to a hotel after reports of a sea turtle in a swimming pool. The incident happened Sunday when a green sea turtle weighing approximately 220 kilos (505 pounds) appeared in the pool.
Local biologists Rocío Peralta and Gabriel Castillo coordinated the initial rescue efforts to remove the turtle from the hotel pool which included help from the Tulum fire department.
Firemen worked alongside them to remove the sea turtle, which was found swimming inside the pool. Tulum firemen said the procedure required special care due to the turtle’s size.
It was carefully restrained and moved to minimize the risk of injury where it was guided onto a board and then to the beach. Once on the sand, it was released and photographed heading back into the sea.
Tulum firemen said the rescue was successful thanks to the joint intervention of specialists and emergency services. No one knew how long the turtle had been in the pool.
The name of the hotel where the incident happened was not provided.
