In October 2015, diver Benny (Rodrigo) Birnbaum discovered a rare, endangered horned sea turtle with a fishing line protruding from its mouth. The concern was that the hook was stuck in his digestive tract. In a complex operation, with the help of Nature and Parks Authority officials and musician Mosh Ben-Ari, the turtle was rescued from the sea on Mosh's beach. From there he was transferred for further treatment and rehabilitation at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center of the Nature and Parks Authority at Ramot Yam School, Mikhmoret.
After a complex operation to remove the hook, which was attached to the esophagus, the turtle, named Rodrigo, was transferred to recovery. In 2016, after six months of lengthy rehabilitation, Rodrigo was released back into the sea, in the presence of the divers who rescued him and the "Mosh Beach" team along with Mosh Ben-Ari. Earlier a white square marking was stamped on his armor so that he could be identified in the future and his condition tracked.
Last night, a year after the last sighting with him and six years since his return to sea, Rodrigo was observed again, by Marine Unit Inspector Omri Omsi.
"This is a turtle that was seriously injured, and I was happy to see it again after a year of not being observed in the bay. It looks in good condition. I recognized it by the marking. "Because it belongs to a rare species. So far, only a few sightings of horned sea turtles have been observed in the Red Sea and in our area in general."
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