Saleem, Abdul and James, N J and Sundaram, Sujit (2019) Rescue and Rehabilitation of an Olive Ridley Turtle from Mannalamkunnu Beach, Thrissur, Kerala, India. Indian Ocean Turtle Newsletter (30). pp. 10-11.
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Indian Ocean Turtle Newsletter_2019_Sujit Sundaram_RESCUE-AND-REHABILITATION-OF-AN-OLIVE-RIDLEY-TURTLE-FROM-MANNALAMKUNNU-BEACH-THRISSUR.pdf Download (265kB) | Preview |
Abstract
On 12th June 2018, a turtle (Figure 1) was found stranded on Mannalamkunnu Beach (10º39´27´´N, 75º58´09´´E), Thrissur, Kerala. The turtle was identified as an olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea). This species is locally referred to as Aamma. Olive ridley turtles are included in Schedule I of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and thus receive legal protection. The turtle was about 60cm in curved carapace length and weighed approximately 24kg. The left front flipper of this turtle was missing, and it is unknown where and how the flipper was amputated but possible causes include boat strike, entanglement in ghost net, or incidental capture by fishing gear. The turtle was weak and could barely move. It is unknown how long the turtle was stranded on the beach before it was rescued by volunteers of Green Habitat, a local NGO dedicated to conservation of turtles. The turtle was taken to a rescue centre nearby at Panchavati and placed in a tank filled with seawater. A veterinarian administered glucose intravenously under the front flipper twice a day for two days. As per the advice of the veterinarian, volunteers of Green Habitat then administered glucose orally to the turtle twice a day for a week. The turtle gained strength to eat on its own after 2-3 days and was then also fed daily with fish such as sardines. In the wild, olive ridley turtles feed on fish, prawns, crabs, lobsters, snails, oysters, sea urchins and jellyfish (Chhapgar, 2005). The turtle was kept in the rescue centre for 25 days. Eventually the turtle, when it regained its health to the satisfaction of the veterinarian, was released into the sea at the site from where it was found stranded.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Marine Turtle Marine Fisheries > Conservation Marine Biodiversity |
| Divisions: | CMFRI-Veraval |
| Depositing User: | Arun Surendran |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Dec 2020 11:21 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Dec 2020 11:21 |
| URI: | http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/id/eprint/14748 |
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