A month after her rescue and Olivia has her first real dip in a pool at the GSPCA to help her rehabilitation
Submitted by Steve on 16:16, 4th Apr, 2016 |
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One month and one day ago a 20 year old female loggerhead turtle was rescued on the west coast of Guernsey on Vazon beach.
Close to death the GSPCA have been caring for her around the clock to help save the emaciated, weak and dehydrated turtle called Olivia.
Today after a great deal of treatment, care and feeding the team decided that it was time for her to have her first swim in salt water in over a month.
The large pool has been donated by Spa De La Mare and they have been very helpful setting it up and providing the heater to keep the water warm.
Insulation has been donated by Guernsey Builders to help keep the heat in and assist with lowering the running costs.
To ensure she has the right sort of clean salt water the Guernsey Aquarium have helped supply it with assistance of States Works who delivered it on Friday.
Finally Waitrose Rohais have donated a large amount of squid which she is now eating.
At just after 2pm the team at the Shelter including Geoff George, Steve Byrne and Ian Power with the assistance of a few others transported Olivia from her heated intensive care room in our wildlife unit to the heated pool which is located in the new multi purpose animal welfare building.
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager "We are so pleased with how well she has taken to the pool and it is amazing to think how weak she was when we first rescued her over a month ago."
"She has put around 10kgs in the last month and now she is in a pool she will hopefully be able to eat on her own for the first time."
"It has been a long process warming her up and it will have been months since last she was in open warm sea water and we could all see how happy she was when we placed her in the pool."
"It has been an amazing effort to get her to this stage and she is getting stronger every day."
"We'd like to say a huge thank you to Guernsey Aquarium, States Works, Guernsey Builders, Waitrose and Spa De La Mare as well as all that have donated to her care so far."
"Olivia has been enjoying a very small paddling pool so we could monitor her in very shallow water to start."
"She is still has some way to go before she is strong enough to travel but we continue to do everything we can for her."
"It is going to be another month or so before we can think about transporting her to a turtle rehabilitation rescue and we are working with professional to do all we can for her."
"We continue to appeal for donations towards her care and of course the electricity it will take to continue to keep her warm."
Geoff George GSPCA Ambulance Driver and head seal carer said "It was great to see how well Olivia did in the pool today and it's lovely and warm in there for her."
"The pool will really help with her rehabilitation and we are starting her with short sessions and monitoring her to ensure that she is strong enough."
"Now she is in water hopefully she will start eating on her own as that is how they would naturally in the wild."
"When I rescued her a month ago she was extremely thin and weak and wouldn't have made it through the night if we hadn't have rescued her from Vazon."
"We are so grateful to everyone that has helped with her care from the local vets to the many businesses."
To see some of the businesses that have helped please check out the links below.
To donate to the turtle or Bonnie the grey seal pup please call 01481 257261, pop along to the Animal Shelter in St Andrews, by post or by clicking the link below.
EXCITING NEWS - Animal Welfare Seafront Sunday this year on the 15th May 2016http://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/exciting-news-animal-welfare-seafront-sunday-year-15th-may-2016
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