It was a sad sight when the hawksbill turtle was picked up some 19 months ago.

Stricken with floaters disease, she had air accummulated under her shell and had been unable to dive or feed for a long time. "She was very thin and very sick," said Jenni Gilbert, co-founder of Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.

Found on Dunk Island, the turtle was named Matilda. Estimated to be at 12 to 15 years, she was rehabilitated and became the centre's longest resident.

Released back into the wild earlier this month, Matilda was fitted with a tracker so that her progress could be recorded for the next six months.