Actor Russell Crowe shells out $52K to help turtles

Actor Russell Crowe. Photo / Getty Images

Actor Russell Crowe has shelled out $52,000 for a new endoscope to help treat injured and sick sea turtles at Australia Zoo.

Sick and injured sea turtles at Australia Zoo have found a saviour in actor Russell Crowe, who has shelled out for a vital piece of medical equipment.

Crowe recently donated a brand new endoscope worth $52,000 to the zoo's Wildlife Hospital.

The endoscope will allow vets to conduct otherwise invasive surgical procedures with minimal impact on the patient, by avoiding large incisions to perform surgeries like removing fish hooks from the gullet and upper gastrointestinal tract.

This will result in faster patient recovery time and a greater chance of survival.

Wildlife Warriors founder Terri Irwin said she was very grateful for the donation.

"This endoscope will mean a higher success rate for rehabilitating sick and injured sea turtles, enabling even more of these endangered animals to be returned to the ocean," she said.

"Russell Crowe's generosity will not only benefit individual sea turtles, but will also contribute to the well being of entire species."