Local News in Brief : Laguna Beach : Rare Leatherback Turtle Dies of Bullet Wounds

A rare 1,000-pound leatherback turtle was found dead of bullet wounds Thursday in the surf off Laguna Beach, said John Cunningham, director of the Friends of the Sea Lions Marine Mammal Center.

Cunningham said it appears that the turtle, which is on state and federal endangered species lists, had been struck by at least six bullets, possibly from an automatic or semiautomatic weapon.

“Some swimmers saw it off Victoria Beach, pulled it in to the shore and called us,” Cunningham said. “I can’t understand anyone shooting an animal that way. The only reason I can think of is it might have been tangled in a commercial fishing net and was shot so the net could be cleared.”

He said leatherback turtles are seldom seen this far north because they usually prefer the warmer waters to the south.

The mammal center treats sick and injured seals, sea lions and other marine animals.

Bill Ford, executive director of the center, said the turtle measured 8 feet, 8 inches across its flippers.