CHENNAI: A grievously injured female Olive Ridley turtle was rescued, treated and released into the Bay of Bengal, said additional chief secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forests Supriya Sahu in a social media post.

The turtle was found with a barbed fishing hook deeply embedded in its mouth. A veterinary team from the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, the Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department carried out a delicate surgical procedure to remove the hook.

The turtle was subsequently kept under observation until it was deemed fit for release. Before being returned to the sea, the turtle was fitted with a satellite transmitter to track its migration routes and diving behaviour in real time. The data is expected to aid efforts to protect Olive Ridley nesting sites along the Tamil Nadu coastline.

Supriya commended the "remarkable teamwork" involved and said the rescue reflected a strong commitment to safeguarding marine biodiversity in Chennai.