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INDONESIA — Leatherback turtles are the largest in the world.
How big do they get? They've been known to tip that scales at 1,500 pounds, according to the World Wildlife Fund. For reference, that's roughly the weight of a Holstein cow ... or two vending machines ... or four sumo wrestlers.
These cow-sized turtles are found in both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, even showing up each year near California to eat the local jellyfish. It was in Indonesia that this heartwarming rescue took place.
According to the caption, villagers were celebrating a birthday party when they noticed what appeared to be a crocodile in the murky waters nearby. After discovering that it was a massive turtle that had been stranded in the swamp by strong currents, they rushed to get the creature safely back to the ocean.
Leatherback turtles are a vulnerable species, as illegal egg harvesting and fatalities from fishery bycatch have devastated their numbers worldwide. Habitat loss is also taking its toll. So, it's awesome to see people rally together to rescue this gentle giant.
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