NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Aquarium team had to euthanize a 700-pound sea turtle that became stranded on a beach. The aquarium’s Stranding Response Team was called to a Norfolk beach Monday morning after beachgoers noticed the giant leatherback turtle on the shore. Witnesses said there was blood on its shell and the reptile spent hours walking in circles toward the water. Aquarium spokeswoman Natalie Sims said the team monitored the turtle and decided to euthanize it Tuesday. Experts say that Leatherbacks can be up to 7 feet long and weigh up to 2,000 pounds.

NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Aquarium team had to euthanize a 700-pound sea turtle that became stranded on a beach. The aquarium’s Stranding Response Team was called to a Norfolk beach Monday morning after beachgoers noticed the giant leatherback turtle on the shore, news outlets reported. The team monitored the turtle and consulted with other agencies before deciding to euthanize the turtle Tuesday, aquarium spokeswoman Natalie Sims said. They should be able to handle some rough surf,” Susan Barco, a senior scientist on the response team added. “We feel confident the turtle was not going to survive in the wild.”