Abdul Hamid Al-Ansari is many things: paramedic, musician, runner, carpenter, scuba diver, and yogi. Now he can add “sea turtle rescuer” to the list.
On July 3, Al-Ansari, an Oman-based influencer, shared a video on Instagram of him and two others saving a loggerhead sea turtle that had become wedged between jagged rocks on a seashore.
As they struggled to lift the sea turtle, the tide continued to rush in, spilling far over the turtle’s head and putting it at risk of drowning.
Fortunately, after several false starts, the three men were able to lift the massive turtle out of the cliff face and back onto the shore.
As it returned to the ocean, Al-Ansari gently patted the top of its shell in “goodbye.”
Although the original video is only at 800 views, copies of it have circulated across various accounts on Instagram and Facebook, cumulatively garnering upwards of 50,000 views.
Screenshot via @abdulhamid_hd/Instagram
One Instagram user wrote: “That’s one lucky turtle right there!”
“Many blessings to them,” another person wrote on Facebook.
“This brought tears to my eyes,” another user said. “Well done guys!!! Thank you.”
Studies show that only two loggerhead nesting populations have greater than 10,000 females nesting per year: Peninsular Florida and the southeastern coast of Oman.
Of the seven species of sea turtles, loggerheads are the largest hard-shelled sea turtles in the world. The average adult loggerhead sea turtle weighs between 250 and 400 pounds — putting into perspective how much weight the Al-Ansari were lifting on the beach that day.
In early June, four fishermen had to use their collective strength to lift an injured green sea turtle out of Florida waters. They later learned that she weighed over 300 pounds.
Generally, experts advise people to give wildlife a wide berth, especially sea turtles, nearly all of which are endangered. If you see a sea turtle in distress, call 1-800-SEATURTLE or use the NOAA Fisheries Stranding Contact Page to find 24-hour hotlines for your region.
However, in extreme life-and-death circumstances, wildlife authorities may ask you to intervene on a sea turtle’s behalf. When reporting an injured or distressed sea turtle, follow the guidance provided by wildlife experts.
See the rescue from Oman below:
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Featured Image: Screenshot via @abdulhamid_hd/Instagram
