Residents in Cornwall have been urged not to put turtles washed up on beaches back in the water, a wildlife trust has said.
There have been reports of marine turtles washed up along the coast, and they could be in distress and “need urgent assistance to survive”, Cornwall Wildlife Trust said.
A spokesperson said people had mistakenly returned the turtles to the water but this could make them more susceptible to drowning.
Bex Allen, marine conservation officer at the trust, said a “quick phone call could save a turtle’s life”.
She said Cornish waters were “generally too cold for marine turtles” and it was vital to act quickly if people found one at the beach.
People should call the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) or, if the turtle is dead, contact the Marine Strandings hotline.
Ms Allen said: “We do occasionally get marine turtles coming ashore along our coast and it’s understandable that people want to help when they see a marine animal in trouble.
“So, we’re urging everyone to be aware of what to do in these situations – a quick phone call could save a turtle’s life.”
