Sea turtles can survive being struck by a boat propeller — but as they heal from the trauma, their shells often change shape, bulging from air building up within their bodies. That throws the animals' ...

The sea creature arrived at San Diego's Birch Aquarium in 2014 Ingrid Vasquez is a Digital News Writer at PEOPLE. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor in Journalism.

Charlotte, a male green sea turtle, wears a 3D-printed harness to help him overcome "bubble butt syndrome" — a condition caused by a boat strike. Charlotte lives at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut.

"Bubble butt" can leave turtles struggling to swim normally — or unable to submerge at all. A 3D-printed harness can help. Sea turtles can survive being struck by a boat propeller — but as they heal ...