“Trash ingestion, such as plastic bags, balloons and other nonbiodegradable plastics, are virtually impossible for us to detect with X-rays, CT scans or other diagnostics until it is too late,” Lauren Bell, a associate sea turtle and aquatic biologist at CMA, told the Dodo.
The team watched Chex very closely. His rehabilitation included monitoring his food intake and keeping him in shallow water, increasing the depth of his pool a little at a time as he became stronger.