Forest Ranger, starting from Picking Up a Lynx Girl

Prying off barnacles is quite a stress-relieving activity when there are no other issues around.

Chen Ying sat on the reef and cleaned the back shell of the large sea turtle that had carried him over.

There were also a few on the chest shell. It’s said that some clever sea turtles deliberately rub their chest shell against the reef to scrape off the barnacle larvae, but it’s not so easy for the turtle’s back, especially the edge of the shell—where would they find a suitable reef to rub against?

In fact, strictly speaking, even if a healthy sea turtle has barnacles on it, it’s not a big problem. They find ways to rub against rocks or suitable sandy beaches, causing the barnacle shells to crack and fall off naturally.

An abundance of barnacles and algae on a turtle signifies that it’s ill, providing opportunistic barnacles the chance to proliferate.

If you encounter such a turtle, covered with barnacles and algae, don’t try to pry them off yourself. The most correct approach is to call the marine animal rescue organization immediately.

The turtle’s plastron and carapace might appear tough, but improper handling can cause injury and illness, even leading to death.

Professionals have the tools and techniques to handle these situations—just like you may know how to sew clothes, but it doesn’t mean you can stitch a wound.

The most crucial step in rescuing a turtle covered in barnacles and algae is to first treat their illness, then clean them up, and once it’s confirmed they are well, release them back.

This large sea turtle didn’t specifically seek out Chen Ying to help deal with the barnacles; it was simply coerced by the street rat of the ocean to act as a ride.