Dinner-plate turtle released back into the wild after ingesting fishing hook
From ABC News (9/2/25)…
Dinner-plate turtle released back into the wild after ingesting fishing hook
A turtle the size of a small dinner plate has survived surgery and 900 kilometres of travel after swallowing an illegal fishing hook in the West Australian town of Geraldton.
The Chelodina steindachneri – also called a “dinner-plate turtle” – was found in the Chapman River in early January with a fishing line down its throat.
The line was attached to a fish trap.
Geraldton-Greenough Wildlife Rescue conservationist Michelle Jones said local vets were unable to remove the hook because it had moved so deeply into the turtle’s stomach.
“It was halfway through his stomach, so lodged in a spot where we totally could not pull it out without doing some damage,” she said.
The turtle was driven to the WA Wildlife Hospital in Perth, 450km south of Geraldton, where several unsuccessful attempts to remove the hook were made.
A delicate surgery using an endoscope finally freed the tiny turtle.
After several weeks in recovery, Ms Jones released him into the reedy shallows of Chapman River this week.
Geraldton local Michele Walters said…
A vets and nurses from WA Wildlife performed delicate surgery on the tiny turtle. (Supplied: WA Wildlife)
