TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A protected female green turtle was found stranded in a breakwater on the west coast of Penghu’s Qimei Island by a tourist on Saturday evening.

A tourist surnamed Chen (陳) said he heard sounds that he suspected were the labored breaths of a sea turtle. He reported it to a local bed and breakfast operator, who then notified a nearby Coast Guard station, per CNA.

Coastal patrol personnel located the green sea turtle trapped between breakwaters. They launched a rescue mission with the help of local residents and diving instructors. The team covered the turtle with a wet towel and placed it in a large container for transport.

Qimei Island, the southernmost island in Penghu, has a population of about 3,000. Due to limited resources on the island, officials decided to transfer the turtle to a specialized marine wildlife center for care.

Early Sunday morning, the turtle was sent by boat to Magong and handed over to the Penghu Marine Biology Research Center (PMBRC) for observation. The center confirmed the turtle was a mature female with only minor scratches. Her shell measured 94 cm in length and 88 cm in width.

Conservationists believe the turtle may have accidentally run aground while foraging or searching for a nesting site. The center will continue monitoring her condition to determine when she can be released back into the wild.