Rescued sea turtle recoups in Utah

SANDY, Utah — An endangered turtle that survived an encounter with a shark and later a boat is on the mend at a Utah aquarium.

The Living Planet Aquarium in suburban Salt Lake City adopted the 40-pound green sea turtle from the Turtle Hospital in the Florida Keys, which has been busy treating turtles caught in the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The transfer opens up much-needed room in Florida.

The turtle arrived on Tuesday after more than a year of care. The aquarium says the turtle was severely bitten by a large shark, then hit by a boat before being rescued.

Living Planet animal curator Andy Allison says turtles often survive the strike in a boat collision, but are unable to submerge themselves in water. The aquarium's newest member is now wearing weights to help it with buoyancy.