16 August,2026 03:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Soon after noticing that the turtle was not able to cruise through the water smoothly, the police personnel rescued the turtle and brought it ashore on their patrol boat (Pic/Special arrangement)
The Mumbai Police, in coordination with wildlife rescue organisation Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), rescued a rare loggerhead sea turtle weighing around 100 kg. According to officials, the turtle was found struggling to swim in the Arabian Sea.
The turtle was spotted by a patrolling team from Yellow Gate Police Station during a routine patrol in the territorial waters of the Arabian Sea. Assistant sub-inspectors Suresh Bhalerao and Prashant Borse, along with Police Constable Nilesh Malusare, noticed the turtle floating on the surface and appearing distressed.
Soon after noticing that the turtle was not able to cruise through the water smoothly, the police personnel rescued the turtle and brought it ashore on their patrol boat. The police personnel subsequently contacted RAWW and handed over the turtle to the wildlife rescue organisation for treatment and rehabilitation.
Arun Kadam and Mahesh Ithape from RAWW soon reached the spot and safely took over the turtle, which was immediately rushed to Dr Rina Dev for treatment in coordination with the Mangrove Cell of the Forest Department.
The turtle was examined, treated, and stabilised. Based on further instructions from the Mangrove Cell, the turtle is being shifted to the Sea Turtle Transit Treatment Center in Dahanu, managed by WCAWA (Wildlife Conservation and Animal Welfare Association) and led by a team of forest officials and RAWW for its further treatment and rehabilitation, as there is no such facility in Mumbai for sea turtles.
The coordinated rescue involved the Mumbai Police, RAWW, and the Forest Department's Mangrove Cell, with the turtle now under observation as it continues its recovery.
In a separate incident, in March, a 9-foot marsh crocodile was rescued from the campus of Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay during an early morning rescue operation.
The reptile was first noticed by security personnel at the institute, who quickly informed the authorities after spotting the animal on the campus premises.
The rescue was carried out jointly by wildlife rescuers from Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) and officials from the Mumbai Forest Department.
After receiving the alert, an expert team reached the campus, assessed the situation and safely captured the crocodile without causing harm to the animal or people in the area.
