Some good luck turned into a bad stomachache for a Thai sea turtle named Bank.

Surgeons in Bangkok on Monday removed 915 coins swallowed by the 25-year-old female reptile as a result of tourists tossing money into her pool for good fortune.

The green sea turtle had about 11 pounds worth of coins in her belly and the weight caused her ventral shell to crack, leading to a life-threatening infection.

It took five surgeons from Chulalongkorn University’s veterinary facility and four hours to remove the coins through a 4-inch incision. Much of the money was corroded or partially dissolved.
Thais believe throwing coins on turtles will bring longevity.

“The result is satisfactory. Now it’s up to Bank how much she can recover,” said surgeon Pasakorn Briksawan.

Bank will spend the next two weeks on a liquid diet as she recovers at the university’s animal hospital.

Members of the Thai navy brought Bank to the vets after finding the sick animal in her hometown of Sri Racha.

A 3D scan of the turtle’s belly found the heavy coin stash – as well as two fish hooks, which were also removed.

“I felt angry that humans, whether or not they meant to do it or if they did it without thinking, had caused harm to this turtle,” said Nantarika Chansue, head of Chulalongkorn University’s veterinary medical aquatic animal research center.

Nearly $430 in donations was raised to help pay for Bank’s surgery.

With Post Wires