‘Green Fur’ Sea Turtle Washes Ashore—Rescuers Realize It’s One of the Rarest Species on Earth

A bizarre-looking sea turtle left beachgoers doing a double take after it washed ashore in Texas looking like it had a coat of green fur. When rescuers arrived, they realized the animal wasn’t just unusual; it belonged to one of the rarest sea turtle species in the world.

The turtle was later identified as a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, a critically endangered species and the smallest sea turtle in existence. The rare sea turtle was discovered stranded on a beach near Galveston, sparking a rapid Texas sea turtle rescue effort.