A young hawksbill turtle missing her front right flipper is recovering at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Turtle Conservation Centre after being rescued in Betty’s Bay in the Western Cape on September 7.
According to the foundation, the turtle, named Amber, arrived dehydrated and weak. Veterinary examination found that her missing flipper was the result of an old, fully healed wound. She weighed 7.1kg and her shell measured just under 42cm.
Amber received fluids, glucose and a course of antibiotics. She has since resumed eating and diving and moved from critical care to a larger rehabilitation tank.
In early October, the team introduced target training, which teaches turtles to associate food with a patterned paddle rather than people, helping discourage them from approaching humans after release.
Morukuru Goodwill Foundation has adopted Amber and is supporting her rehabilitation. The conservation team is optimistic about her recovery and eventual return to the ocean.
