Sea turtle is found dead

CHRIS KELLY staff The 500-pound turtle found washed up dead in Long Branch was believed to be more than 70 years old. on beach in Long Branch

LONG BRANCH — A 500-pound leatherback turtle was found dead, washed up on the Long Branch shore on Aug. 2.

The cause of death was obvious, according to Julie Hajdusek, education coordinator for Clean Ocean Action. She said a plastic bag was found coming out of the turtle’s mouth and rectum.

"It was entangled in the entire digestive system, from end to end," Hajdusek said.

The male turtle was found at 7:30 a.m. by a young boy on the beach south of Takanassee Beach Club on Ocean Avenue in the West End section of the city.

The turtle, believed to be more than 70 years old, was 55 inches long and is an endangered species , Hajdusek said.

The turtle was removed between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on the same day it was found, and was taken to a landfill. If the turtle was found alive, it would have been taken to a marine mammal rehabilitation center, Hajdusek said.

"We [COA] are educators and the everyday action of how people dispose of their garbage is important," Hajdusek said. "This is a sad example of what can happen when plastic gets into the marine environment."

— Christine Varno