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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.
Every day we see strength and weight gained on Olivia the loggerhead turtle who has in the last few days made strides with her movement in her pen.
Last week she was started on solid food, that is if you can call squid solid but it is the first whole food she has received.
Having arrived and put on fluids then moved on the a liquidised food it has been wonderful to see her consume whole food with a little help.
We have been busy with the finishing touches with her heated pool which has been an awesome team effort from local support.
Waitrose has donated more than ten kilos of squid for Olivia the loggerhead turtle as she continues to recover at the Guernsey Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA).
The endangered animal was found washed up on Guernsey’s west coast earlier this month after she was caught up in the Gulf Stream.
This afternoon the team at the GSPCA took a rather different delivery.
Olivia who is improving each day needs to soon be placed in a pool or tank and today Mickey and Dean from Spa De La Mare arrived with a hot tub to do the job.
Likely the only Animal Shelter across the UK and Channel Islands to have a hot tub on site the 3m square pool is in a section of the new multi purpose animal welfare building.
Nearly a week on and the team at the GSPCA with the guidance and expertise of local Vet John Knight continue to care for and do all we can for the very sick loggerhead turtle.
Olivia who was found on Vazon beach on the west coast at 4pm on Wednesday of last week has been having tests and checks to ensure that her ill health isn't just because of cold shock and being in an unsuitable climate.
Last Wednesday when the team were called out to rescue Olivia the loggerhead turtle she wasn't the only one to be rescued off of the beach.
Shortly after her arrival at the GSPCA when the vet and team were checking her over a crab and some goose barnacles seem to have hitched a lift.
The goose barnacles were found attached mostly to the rear and the small clawed hitch hiker was found between Olivia's back right leg and her shell.
The crab didn't want to come out straight away but the next morning was found trying to enter the pen area of Bonnie the seal.
Olivia the loggerhead turtle continues her rehabilitation at the GSPCA in St Andrews.
Rescued last Wednesday she had a further check with Vet John Knight today.
Still very weak after her ordeal the team at the GSPCA continue to slowly raise her body temperature and treat her under the advice of the vet.
Not only did Olivia get to see the vet today she also got the chance of a little dip in a small pool with warmed water which she appeared to appreciate.
On Wednesday at the GSPCA we rescued an extremely rare loggerhead turtle at Vazon which although still weak has made it through the first 48 hours thanks to Vet John Knight and the team at the GSPCA.
Today it was decided to give Olivia a full check over so she has had xrays, bloods taken, faeces sample sent off, tube fed and been on a drip.
Olivia behaved very well throughout the tests and seemed thankful for the tubing and drip. She also received a number of other treatments and injections to help her condition.