The 38-pound turtle had been trapped for nearly a month this summer in an intake channel near a Long Beach power plant, within range of people who tried to snag it with hooks or impale it with makeshift spears. The X-rays were the start of weeks of recuperation and rapid healing.

This week, nearly two months after it was rescued, the turtle's condition had improved dramatically and it was cleared to return to the wilds within a week or two.

"Judging from the look of her flippers and their movement when we clean these wounds, the broken bones are starting to mend nicely," Adams said. "And she's gained about four pounds."

One man, witnesses said, hooked onto one of its rear flippers and then struggled for about an hour and half to bring it to shore. Eventually, the fishing line snapped and the turtle swam free.