Endangered Sea Turtle Is Swimming Again After Researchers Create Prosthetic Flipper

Researchers in Bangkok have helped an injured sea turtle swim again with an innovative artificial flipper. It was built considering the animal’s injury, weight and swimming style. The prosthesis offers hope to other turtles trapped and maimed by fishing nets. A Thai endangered sea turtle which lost its flipper after getting tangled in a fishing net is swimming with ease again after receiving a prosthetic limb.

Sea turtles are often injured or killed by human activities, most commonly by ingesting plastic or getting caught in fishing nets or lines, which can stop blood circulating to their limbs. Previously, Goody was able to swim only with difficulty using her one right flipper, while living in a confined space with other injured turtles. Another 10 Thai turtles have similar injuries that could benefit from the project.