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.
Cleaning off the barnacles is like a tip given by the two-legged beast it served! ┓(´∀`)┏
After spending more than an hour, Chen Ying cleared all the barnacles off the turtle’s shell.
Meanwhile, some coast guard officers came by to take pictures and left some useful items.
"Brother Ying, let’s have a barbecue here for lunch. I’ll have them send over some supplies so we can grill seafood with the freshest ingredients."
Alon and his friends were on the other side accompanying Dao Meihua and some Yu Family sisters to snorkel.
Dao Meihua’s sister-in-law directly brought over the family’s small yacht, while another affluent heir rented a mid-sized yacht from the yacht club, joining in near the island to play.
Alon and a few colleagues were off work today, and when they heard there was a boss hiring a diving instructor to accompany them here, they came over without a second thought.
However, they were mindful enough to play on the other side of the island, trying not to disturb Chen Ying’s close interaction with the turtle.
Not far away, White Dolphins and killer whales seemed to be engaged in some competition, leaping out of the water one after another—a spectacle that intrigued even Alon, who grew up by the sea. They’d never seen such lively whale and dolphin interactions!
Have you ever seen a dance battle?
The live scene with dolphin pods and killer whales was pretty much like that.
You jump one, I’ll do one too, guaranteeing it’s better, higher, and more graceful than yours.
This action whales perform—leaping from the water into the air and back into the sea—is called "breaching," and after expert analysis, the purposes can generally be categorized into communication, courtship, and parasite removal.
But watching today’s "competition" between dolphins and killer whales, it seems like play should be added to that list.
It was always said that killer whales don’t prey on dolphins, but before, a photographer named Jody captured the entire process of a pod of killer whales hunting dolphins in Monterey Bay.
Putting down the Little Dao, Chen Ying stretched his neck and shoulders.
Don’t be misled by those video bloggers who easily pry off one barnacle with a knife. In reality, clearing off these pesky little things without harming the turtle is a technical task and a laborious one as well.
After Chen Ying patted the turtle’s back shell, indicating the beautification was over, the turtle happily swam back into the water.
Twenty minutes later, while Chen Ying was having breakfast, he saw the turtle return, dragging something in its mouth.
Wow, a big jellyfish!
Sea turtles eat jellyfish, just like slurping noodles.
The turtle Chen Ying helped earlier was a green sea turtle. Adult green turtles primarily eat seagrass and algae, but occasionally consume jellyfish, fish, and shellfish. Juvenile turtles mainly eat fish eggs, mollusks, and other small marine invertebrates, along with algae and other plants.
To them, jellyfish are a delicacy. Hence, gifting jellyfish is trendy in turtle circles.
However, while the turtle dared to gift it, Chen Ying dared not eat it.
After much persuasion, he convinced the turtle to slurp up the jellyfish itself.
Just as he was planning to return to the yacht for a nap, the sound of splashing water arose, followed by seawater drenching Chen Ying’s head and face.
He helplessly wiped his face and looked at the troublemaker.
There was no need to guess; it was the smallest killer whale, staring eagerly at Chen Ying, wanting him to help toss back the toy it had been playing with earlier.
That thing fell into the reef, and luckily there was a small tidal pool of three to four square meters, or else it would have shattered into pieces upon hitting the rocks.
Chen Ying had no choice; he has a natural fondness for these black and white little cuties. Like a father spoiling his child, he knows his own kid may be naughty yet still calls them smart, lively, and outgoing.
Carefully stepping into the tidal pool, Chen Ying moved very slowly.
The places look calm, but if you’re not careful, it’s easy to get the skin scratched. The types of organisms in the sea are too complex—if you get infected, you wouldn’t even know why.
He didn’t wear shoes when he left the yacht, let alone water boots.