Muticolored Enormous Turtle returned to the sea: Fisherman Turns down $2,000 reward for a huge colorful turtle he accidentally caught - and instead releases it back into the sea

Photo: CEN

Li Awei with the spectacular turtle he and other fishermen hauled in after it became caught in a net. Despite being offered the equivalent of $AUD2000 for the creature, he decided to release it back into the ocean

Chinese fisherman hauled in massive sea turtle weighing nearly 70kg
    He was offered the equivalent of more than $AUD2000 for the creature
    But he turned it down in order to return it to the wild 
...'seeing such large sea turtles is sign of good luck'

 

A man who accidentally caught a huge turtle turned down more than $AUD2000 for the sea creature, instead opting to return it to the sea - and under folklore, earn himself a long life.

The fisherman, believed to be from the Fujian region of China, unexpectedly hauled in the turtle earlier this week, much to his - and his fellow fishermens' - surprise.

After getting their helping to pull in a heavy net, the man, thought to be called Li Awei, found the beautifully coloured turtle, more than a metre long, 73cm wide and weighing 67.5kg, Shanghaiist reported.

Photo: CEN

The large turtle is said to be 107cm long, 73cm wide and weigh nearly 70kg

With striking orange, red and yellow coloring and its large size, the turtle has a striking appearance

But no sooner than had he brought the creature ashore, interest began to grow, with people from his town offering him large sums of money for it. Despite the offers, he decided to return it to the sea.  According to Shanghaiist, seeing such large sea turtles is sign of good luck.

Photo: CEN

Li Awei and other men carry the huge turtle back towards the water where it was released into the ocean

Photo: CEN

Mr Awei (left) helps return the turtle to the sea. Doing so is said to help pray for longevity in China, according to reports

So rather than tempt fate, the decision was made to return it to the sea. 

According to the report, releasing animals to the wild earns moral credit and is a form of prayer.

Releasing turtles is said to aid longevity, so perhaps Mr Awei will live to an old age, much like the creature he released.

However, Shanghaiist also reported that some businesses had begun illegally breeding animals for the purpose of such releases.

Although the exact location where the turtle was caught is unknown, it is thought to have been in the South China Sea near the Fujian area of China.

Photo: CEN

The turtle as it its dumped back into the ocean from whence it came, so that it did not become a meal 

Photo: CEN

The turtle swims off as it re-enters its habitat

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Courtesy:  mail