Lucky, a loggerhead sea turtle who lived in an aquarium tank for seven years, is finally returning to its home ocean.
Airing on November 8 at 9:30 AM, SBS's "Animal Farm" will feature the story of Lucky, a 150-kilogram loggerhead sea turtle and internationally endangered species that miraculously survived after being rescued seven years ago while entangled in discarded fishing nets.
Previously introduced on "Animal Farm," Lucky had narrowly escaped death, though survival was far from guaranteed at the time. Miraculously recovering, the turtle was given the name "Lucky" and is now preparing to leave the narrow aquarium tank and return to the ocean after seven years.
However, while preparing for the release, a mass was discovered on the back of Lucky's neck, requiring multiple surgeries. Under the attentive care of veterinarian Hong Won-hee, the surgeries were successfully completed and Lucky's health was restored. Yet, because the turtle had grown accustomed to being fed by humans over the years, losing wild instincts—such as approaching people first upon seeing them—remained a concern.
In response, veterinarian Hong Won-hee launched a special evaluation to verify Lucky's survival skills. Final tests were conducted, ranging from attempting to hunt for the first time in seven years to assessing coexistence with other marine life and evaluating swimming adaptability in an environment resembling the actual ocean. However, once placed in the unfamiliar setting, Lucky exhibited unexpected behavior, briefly causing tension on site.
Lucky the loggerhead sea turtle's emotional journey back to the ocean after overcoming numerous hurdles will be revealed on "Animal Farm," airing this Sunday, November 8, at 9:30 AM.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)
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