Vets say she ate the coins after they were thrown into her pool for good luck.
ADVERTISEMENTVeterinarians removed 915 coins from the stomach of this 25-year old turtle.
She had reportedly been swallowing the coins which had been thrown into her pool in the hope of good luck in return.
The build-up of coins had begun to affect Omsin’s ability to swim properly. ‘Omsin’ means ‘piggy bank’ in Thai.
The green sea turtle had been living at a conservation centre in Sriracha, Chonburi, about an hour and a half south east of the capital Bangkok.
Nantarika Chansue of Chulalongkorn University’s veterinary science faculty said the coins accounted for about 10% of Omsin’s total body weight, as 5kg.
Her rear end was struggling to remain buoyant with the added weight in her stomach.
Vets said they believed the seven-hour operation was the first of its kind, and they say it will take about seven months of therapy and recovery before Omsin is back to normal.