The carcass of a 72cm loggerhead turtle was found floating in the middle of Mellieha Bay on Saturday afternoon and was pulled ashore by the St Aloysius Scouts Group who were on site.

The turtle was dead, likely from a massive injury to its carapace, thought to have been caused by a boat’s propeller.

Nature Trust’s Marine Rescue Team took measurements and photographs on site and an official of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority collected the carcass for it to be properly disposed of.

On the same day, another loggerhead turtle was collected and brought ashore live by BirdLife and taken to the rehabilitation centre at San Lucjan for further medication since it had difficulty in swimming.

The Rescue Unit appealed to the public for donations to help them purchase specific transport boxes for the turtles.

The Marine Rescue Team can be contacted on mobile numbers 9942-2085/6.