How did a tropical reptile, only slightly bigger than a dinner plate, end up on Western Australia's south coast hundreds of kilometres from home?

That's what wildlife carers have asked after a juvenile green turtle, in poor condition, washed up on a beach in Esperance, 800 kilometres south-east of Perth, last week.

The unlikely traveller, usually found in the warm waters along the north-west of WA, had a large gash above its front flipper, was sluggish and had what appeared to be an eye infection.

Rush to help

The injured animal was quickly transferred to the nearby Esperance Wildlife Hospital by a young family who found it washed ashore at Wylie Bay, about 10km east of town.

Hospital co-founder Lori-Ann Shibish said the initial treatment over several days was done alongside Dr Alex H

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