00:00Two endangered sea turtles rescued in Kudat in July, a 30-year-old male named Datto and a juvenile called Kutu were released back into the sea on Wednesday.
00:12The release took place in a small ceremony at Gaia Island Resort near Kota Kinabalu,
00:18where conservators and staff who had nursed them back to health became emotional as the turtles returned to the ocean.
00:24When found, Datto was dehydrated, severely constipated and had an eye infection.
00:30Kutu had similar symptoms and a sea lice infestation.
00:34On release, both turtles lingered on the beach before slowly swimming away from the island.
00:39They had called the island home for the past four months.
00:42Marine biologists Scott Maybach and Divian Tharmasegaran, who oversaw their recovery,
00:49said the turtles had performed well during a recent test swim, showing they were ready for release.
00:55The turtles were initially placed in separate tanks for tailored treatment.
01:00A satellite geotag was fitted to Datto's shell to track him for one to two years.
01:05It will naturally detach over time.
01:08The information collected will help researchers understand his movements,
01:12including any return to Kudat and his preferred feeding areas.
01:16As an adult male, the data may also reveal his behaviour during the mating season.
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