The bleeding olive ridley was first spotted by locals on the beach on Monday around 4pm; they reported about it to the police.
In a rescue operation that spanned 12 hours, a severely injured female olive ridley turtle found at Juhu beach was rescued and later shifted to the Sea Turtle Rescue Facility in Dahanu for rehabilitation.
The bleeding olive ridley was first spotted by locals on the beach on Monday around 4pm; they reported about it to the police. Together, they secured the turtle and approached the forest department and Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), an NGO that works to rescue urban wildlife.
"We got the information around 6.30pm and we told the cops to ensure that the turtle does not get dehydrated, suggesting that seawater be sprinkled on her at regular intervals. We reached with our ambulance at the spot by 8pm and saw that both her flippers were injured; the left one was in a bad shape as its internal muscles and bones were visible," said Pawan Sharma, RAWW president.
The team decided to take the turtle to the Vakola clinic of Dr Dinesh Vinherkar, a wildlife vet who is part of the Wildlife Conservation and Animal Welfare Association that runs a rescue and rehabilitation centre for reptiles and wildlife in Dahanu. He co-ordinated the rescue with RAWW members.
"The turtle was in a very traumatic condition when she was brought in. Gangrene had set in in her left flipper, which was fractured beyond repair and needed amputation. The right flipper was injured and bleeding and its lower shell was damaged," informed Vinherkar, adding that they decided to give her basic primary treatment to stop the bleeding and reduce the stress.
He added that post the treatment he spoke to the Dahanu centre and arranged for the move. "The injury seemed recent and could have been either due to boat propellers or fishing nets. She needs long-term care and proper facility and could take over three months to recover from all these injuries and the surgery," said the vet.
RAWW members, who had already informed the forest department, completed the formalities for taking the turtle to Dahanu.
"After getting the necessary papers, we made arrangements for proper transportation of this turtle to Dahanu and wrapped her in a moist cloth and also carried water with us. We reached the facility around 3am," said Sharma, adding that he hoped that the turtle survived.
Endangered olive ridley turtles are categorised "vulnerable" on the IUCN's list of threatened species and are washed ashore often after being injured.
){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}
 "turtle")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}