Rare turtle saved from cooking pot is found dead at Ocean Park

Just days after it was saved from a cooking pot in a Mong Kok seafood restaurant, a critically endangered Hawksbill turtle has died at Ocean Park.

The park said the turtle had "marked gastroenteritis" when it died on Sunday and had probably eaten "non-food material".

Although it appeared to be in good condition when it arrived at the park on Thursday, it had refused to eat and was found to be underweight. There was also a fish hook in its gullet.

A post-mortem examination showed it had a tumour in its intestines and other abnormalities.

Restaurant owner Ng Pak-yan, who bought the turtle from an angler who had caught it and wanted him to cook it, said he was "definitely sad" to learn of its death. "It appeared to be so lively before the media, now it is suddenly dead," he added.

"I was happy that fate brought it to me, but now it's dead."