Mumbai’s Taraporewala aquarium’s turtle ‘back’ in a good health

The lone surviving Green Sea Turtle from Mumbai’s Taraporewala aquarium, which was shifted to Dahanu’s turtle facility in an extremely critical condition is now healthy and was shifted back to the aquarium on late Friday evening after undergoing treatment for 45 days.

The female turtle, which was admitted to the turtle rescue centre run by Wildlife Conservation and Animal Welfare Association (WCAWA) at Dahanu, covered a journey of almost over 180 kilometres to reach the aquarium at Charni Road.

DNA on June 12, had reported on the death of two turtles — a green sea and another a hawksbill. Meanwhile, a third turtle, who was suffering from enteritis and was critical, was shifted to Dahanu on June 6.

“Currently, the turtle is performing all her important functions without any trouble. On certain days when she does not feed, we even hand feed her,” said Dr Dinesh Vinherkar, wildlife veterinarian and turtle expert associated with WCAWA who nursed the turtle back to good health.

He added that they have requested the aquarium officials not to put the turtle on display for now and wait for a few weeks till it adjusts to its new surroundings.

The turtle was put in a tub with shallow water and throughout the journey to Mumbai, towels that were soaked in seawater was used to keep her moist. An official from the aquarium affirmed that the turtle was back and they have kept it in a big tank in quarantine and will follow the vet’s advice.