Although the condition of the turle is critical, authorities are hoping that it fights back and responds to the treatment.
Another Olive Ridley turtle was washed ashore and found on Juhu beach in a critical condition on Wednesday evening. However, thanks to activists, it was rescued in the nick of time and sent for treatment to the facility in Dahanu in the wee hours of Thursday.
The turtle, categorised as 'vulnerable' on the IUCN's list of threatened species, was first reported to the forest department, Mumbai range, from Juhu beach on Wednesday evening. The department staff shifted it to Thane and immediately alerted members of Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), an NGO that works to rescue urban wildlife.
Volunteers of RAWW soon took the turtle and brought it to the Vakola clinic of Dr Dinesh Vinherkar, a wildlife vet and turtle expert, who is associated with the Wildlife Conservation and Animal Welfare Association (WCAWA).
"The turtle is in an extremely critical condition. Its left flipper has been completely cut, while the right one is just hanging on the bone. Since there is no blood supply, gangrene has set in in the entire flesh of the flipper and it will have to be amputated," said Vinherkar, adding that in a majority of cases, these turtles lose their flippers to either propellers of boats or fishing nets.
Explaining the treatment, Vinherkar said he has given medication that has helped the turtle gain some strength as it was initially in a lot of shock and trauma. "Septicemia has set in due to infection and there is swelling in the body too; it's true that the turtle is in quite a critical condition, but we hope it fights back and responds well to our treatment," he said, adding that the turtle has been sent to the WCAWA-run rescue and rehabilitation centre for reptiles and wildlife in Dahanu.
RAWW president Pawan Sharma, who along with his volunteers shifted the turtle to the Dahanu centre, said they were alerted by the Mumbai range forest staff around 5pm.
"After the life-saving treatment given by Dr Vinherkar, we decided to immediately shift the turtle to Dahanu. Taking all the required permissions, we left for Dahanu around 9-30pm on Wednesday and reached only at 4am the next day due to heavy traffic on the entire route," he said, adding that there was an urgent need of having a small holding facility in Mumbai as the number of such turtles being washed ashore has been rising.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Olive Ridley turtle (Representational Image)")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}