Cape York: Endangered Olive Ridley turtle named Lou learns to swim again after losing flippers 

Heartwarming moment endangered sea turtle named Lou learns to swim again after losing two of his flippers

  • Lou the turtle was set free in Cape York, in Far North Queensland, on October 28 
  • He was found in fishing nets in 2015 and lost two flippers after getting caught 
  • Lou has since had to learn how to swim again while using his tail as a rudder 

An endangered Olive Ridley turtle named Lou who lost two of his flippers after getting caught in fishing nets has been released back into the wild after five years.

Lou was set free in Cape York, a remote peninsula in Far North Queensland, on October 28 by the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.

He first came to the attention of the group when he was found caught in fishing nets.

His front left flipper and back right needed to be amputated as a result of the trauma.

Lou was set free in Cape York, a remote peninsula in Far North Queensland, on October 28 by the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre

Lou has been learning how to use his tail as a rudder ever since – and last week he was given the chance to test it in the ocean.

Co-founder of the rescue, Jennie Gilbert, was part of the effort to return Lou back to the waters in Cape York.

‘It took him a while but once he got going, he was moving at great speed,’ she told Cairns Post.

‘It’s a great show of determination and resilience.

‘The cute thing was there was a smaller turtle who took a peek at Lou. It was almost like the small one saying, “welcome back to country”.’ 

Ms Gilbert said Lou spent a long time floating in the water before he started to swim. 

She said since he was released Lou has travelled 60km, and it was great he was moving so well. 

He first came to the attention of the group when he was found caught in fishing nets without his front left flipper, and his back right one needed to be amputated it was so injured

He first came to the attention of the group when he was found caught in fishing nets without his front left flipper, and his back right one needed to be amputated it was so injured

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