An enormous leatherback turtle "Dermochelys coriacea", the largest existing turtle species, was found lifeless yesterday in the sea of Versilia, where it had been seen swimming for a few days.

The personnel of Naval Unit V.2044 of the operational section of the Guardia di Finanza of Marina di Carrara noticed that the large marine reptile, weighing approximately 300 kilos and 2 meters long, had its neck and a front fin hooked to the top of a underwater counterweight, which was impossible to lift from the bottom.

The operators had to dive to free the body of the sea turtle and then tow it to the port of Viareggio, where a crane lifted it and placed it on the van of the WWF Viareggio operators, who promptly reached the port from the first aid center of Ronchi in Marina di Massa.

«This sad discovery – comments the WWF – caused, involuntarily or consciously, once again by human activity, represents an enormous loss for the biodiversity of our seas and the protection of the large species that inhabit them ».

The lifeless body of the majestic turtle will now be transferred to the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Pisa, which together with the Arpat of Livorno and the University of Siena will analyze it to ascertain the cause of death.

(Unioneonline/D)

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