Latest update December 19th, 2024 3:22 AM
Rescued turtle returns to natural habitat
The turtle on the Coast Guard boat before being released into the Atlantic Ocean
The male Olive Green turtle rescued from the jaws of death by fishermen on Friday last has fully recovered and was yesterday released into the Atlantic Ocean.
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society, Coast Guard, Dr. Nicholas Waldron, Conservation International, and the Zoo the young sea creature was given medical assistance and returned to its habitat.
Around 05:45hrs yesterday the turtle was loaded onto a vessel belonging to the Coast Guard and released into the Atlantic Ocean. The now healthy turtle responded well to the waves and flipped his way swiftly navigating away from the vessel.
According to Annette Arjoon-Martins, Founder of Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society, Dr. Waldron, a private veterinarian who does pro bono work for Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society examined the turtle on Sunday at the Zoo.
Steroids and antibiotics helped the recovery of the turtle that mistakenly ate bits of plastic instead of jelly fish.
She related that on Friday, David Singh, of Conservation International informed her of the distressed turtle that fishermen had rescued at the mouth of the Demerara River.
She related that the urgency of helping the ailing turtle was transmitted to her during a telephone conversation with a distraught fisherman, Banky.
“I was inquiring of timings and other details pertaining to the turtle and Banky said ‘sistrin you have to come now or the turtle won’t make it’”, Arjoon-Martins related.
Upon arrival at the Ruimveldt wharf the conservationist was surprised at the compassion shown to the turtle by roughly 80 fishermen. The men had placed the turtle on a bed made of nets and water was constantly poured on its hard back.
There the horrid trauma the turtle experienced was related to her. According to Arjoon-Martins, the fishermen discovered the turtle bobbing and it was clear that he was in distress. As such, the men hauled the turtle aboard. The reason for the distress was later known as the turtle began vomiting plastics.
With the help of Leslie Lewis of the Zoo and France Gomes, a Rupununi resident, the turtle was transported to the Zoo at around 20:30 hrs. There the creature was placed in a holding pond.
Arjoon-Martins opined that had the fishermen not rescued the sea creature it would have endured a slow and painful death brought on by people’s irresponsible dirty habit of littering.
She noted that male turtles do not come to land but during the mating season- between March and August- they are close to shore. She suggested that this could have been the reason why the sea creature came into contact with the bits of plastic.
Arjoon-Martins said that sea turtles are very important to marine life. “The Olive Green turtle graze on sea grass keeping it level for fishes to lay eggs. When they are killed inadvertently their death affects fish,” she added.
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