A hawksbill turtle was trapped in a deep drain near a motel in Tanjung Kling, Melaka, Malaysia on June 7, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4].
The Melaka Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call about the turtle at around 11:30 to 11:33 a.m. The call came after a motel worker spotted the turtle and unsuccessfully tried to free it before alerting motel owner Alex Tan, who contacted authorities [1, 2, 3, 4]. Tan said, "This is the first time a turtle was trapped in a drain" [3].
Seven firemen from the Tangga Batu Fire and Rescue Station were deployed to the scene for the rescue operation [3, 4]. Deputy fire superintendent Mohd Hafidzatullah Rashid said, "Firefighters found a sea turtle stuck inside a drain and immediately carried out a rescue operation to remove the marine species safely. The turtle was successfully freed before being released back into the sea" [2]. The rescue was conducted without complications [1, 2, 3, 4].
The turtle is believed to be a hawksbill turtle, a critically endangered species protected under conservation laws. The IUCN classifies the species as critically endangered due to threats including illegal shell trade [1, 2, 4]. The animal was estimated to weigh between 40 and 60 kilograms [4].
Turtle sightings near the motel are not uncommon since the nearby beach serves as a nesting site. Authorities noted a dead turtle was found in the vicinity previously [3].
After being freed, the turtle was released back into the sea the same day [1, 2, 3, 4].
