BANGALORE: A 25-year-old Indian black turtle got a new lease of life after a city-based boy alerted the BBMP officials that a turtle was battling for life.
Recently, the BBMP forest cell received a call from a boy, Vaishak, that a turtle was injured in an accident. The forest cell volunteers rushed to the spot and found that its shell (exoskeleton) was damaged. The turtle belonged to Indian Pond Terrapin ( Melanochelys trijuga) species.
For any turtle, the shell acts as a protector and it inserts its tender body portion into the shell whenever it senses trouble.
The animal was treated at the rescue centre. Following the first-aid, the volunteers worked towards re-fixing the damaged shell, without which the turtle would have not survived. As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, this specie is considered as ‘near threatened’.
Subsequently, with use of ‘Epoxy Resin,’ a special type of adhesive, they re-fixed the shell. Volunteers were successful in their mission.
After three weeks, the forest cell volunteers released the turtle into water. The injuries had healed and the animal had problems in swimming.Sharathbabu of BBMP forest cell told Express that the turtle was released into Yediyur Lake. He thanked the boy who alerted the forest cell about the injured turtle. He appealed to the citizens to inform the cell if they come across any animal which needs immediate medical attention.