World Turtle Day 2020: Injured turtles get a medical check-up at Kelly Tarlton's. Video / Supplied
Her species has been part of the marine ecosystem for millions of years.
But wild populations are falling and single-use plastic is a particularly serious threat when turtles mistake it for food, and sometimes turtles like Abby need our help.
The rescued loggerhead turtle is today the star of abehind-the-scenes video at Sea Life Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium in Auckland in a move to raise awareness of sea turtles in the wild.
Abby, one of the newest residents in the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, was rescued from Baylys Beach in Northland in December after she was found to have a severe bone infection and a large open wound on her right flipper.
That flipper was later amputated during surgery at Auckland Zoo, but her future is still looking bright.
Abby's journey to rehabilitation began when she was discovered on Baylys Beach in Northland. File photo / Jason Oxenham
In a video to mark World Turtle Day, aquarist Kim Evans took viewers behind the scenes for a health check on Abby.
The turtle was weighed - she's 27.5kg - measured, photographed, had her amputation stump checked and was given her medication before being returned to a pool in the rehabilitation centre, which was recently upgraded after a contribution from Countdown.
But Abby would soon be on the move, with plans to transfer her to the Turtle Bay display at the aquarium to give visitors the opportunity to see her before she is eventually released back into the ocean, Sea Life Kelly Tarlton's said.
