UPDATE - Olivia the loggerhead turtle at the GSPCA is still very weak and is seeing the vet for further tests this morning
Submitted by Steve on 12:23, 4th Mar, 2016 |
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Olivia the loggerhead turtle who was rescued late on Wednesday is still very weak and the team at the GSPCA are doing all we can for her.
She saw the vet yesterday for the second time and will be seeing local vet John Knight for further tests and treatments this morning to see what internal issues she may have.
We will of course keep you up to date and to donate to her care and see her rescue story please read below -
On Wednesday just after 4pm the GSPCA were called out to what was reported to be a stranded turtle on the west coast of Guernsey.
Ambulance Collection Officer and Marine Medic Geoff George responded to the call and when he arrived at Vazon was faced with a Loggerhead Turtle.
With the assistance of a kind member of public they quickly got the very sick and weak reptile into the GSPCA Ambulance where it was then transported directly to the wildlife unit at the Animal Shelter.
As the animal was being driven the short journey to the GSPCA Yvonne Chauvel Senior Animal Care Assistant and GSPCA Manager Steve Byrne were preparing an intensive care area and coordinating for the vet to attend.
Just after 4.30pm the GSPCA Ambulance arrived and GSPCA staff Sheryl Carre, Sarah Creasey and Geoff George carried the poor turtle into the wildlife unit.
The GSPCA team made the turle comfortable and moments later local Vet, GSPCA President and the Born Free’s Senior Veterinary Consultant John Knight BVetMed, MRCVS arrived to examine and treat what was a very thin and weak turtle.
Geoff George and Steve Byrne assisted John Knight and a few small injuries were spotted and injections given.
After thoroughly checking the turtle over the vet instructed the team to wash her, clean any wounds and apply vaseline to keep her moist.
The animal which will be named later today was then left to rest.
The female 50kg animal is slowly being warmed at the GSPCA and the vet is due out this morning again to provide additional treatment that she will require after a night of rest.
Geoff George Animal Collection Officer and Marine Medic said "As soon as I saw her with kind help from a member of public we got the very sick turtle in the GSPCA Ambulance and back to the Shelter as quickly as I could."
"The vet was with us moments after she arrived at the Shelter and after treating her I have been monitoring her over night and this morning."
"This isn't the first turtle we have rescued as we did rescue a green trutle over 10 years ago which I was involved with and we got that one back to the Canaries."
"It's early days yet and the vet is out again today, if anyone would like to donate to her care please call 01481 257261, at the Shelter or online."
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager "After a very busy day rescuing lots of animals yesterday we really didn't expect to be called out to a stranded turtle."
"Thankfully we have a wildlife unit set up for a wide variety of species and an experienced team at the GSPCA."
"It is too early to tell how she will do but we are doing all we can and have an excellent experienced vet to help in her rehabilitation."
"If anyone would like to help towards her care please do donate to help her and the hundreds of animals at the GSPCA or to help regularly please become an Angel Pen Pal sponsor and donate a little each month to help those animals in need."
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.
GSPCA rescue a Loggerhead Turtle on Vazon Bay in GuernseyTo see the story and to donate to her care please go to - http://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/gspca-rescue-loggerhead-turtle-vazon-bay-guernsey
8 days on and Bonnie the seal pup is doing better than we could have hoped http://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/10-days-and-bonnie-seal-pup-doing-better-we-could-have-hoped
The grey seal (Halichoerus grypus, meaning "hooked-nosed sea pig") is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a large seal of the family Phocidae or "true seals". It is the only species classified in the genus Halichoerus. Its name is spelled gray seal in the US; it is also known as Atlantic grey seal and the horsehead seal
Grey seal adults may be up to 2.5 metres in length and weigh up to 250kg, with males tending to be larger than females.
Previous seal pups rescued Jethou Bumblebee was 17kg on entry and Hanois 20kg, Eden 18kg and Trinity 15kg which was less than half the 40kg they should have been for their age with Bonnie only 14kg.
Male grey seals reach sexual maturity at 6 years, Females at 3 to 5 years and the latter give birth to their pups in the Autumn and early Winter.
Typically the first British pups are born off the Scillies and Cornwall in August and September and the time of pupping is progressively later as you move clockwise around the British Isles, the latest pups being born off the east coast of Scotland in late December.
All seal pups rescued locally were born early November to late December.
At, birth, grey seal pups weigh about 13 kg. and are covered in long, creamy white hair. A bond is formed between mother and pup at birth, and a mother can recognise her pup from its call and smell. For the first 3 weeks of their lives, pups rarely swim, suckling from their mothers 5 to 6 times a day, for up to 10 minutes at a time. The mothers milk is rich in fat and the pups rapidly put on weight.
The seal pups rescued have all been around two to three weeks when they were brought into the GSPCA.
The mother tends to remain just offshore between suckling bouts and rarely feeds, losing up to a quarter of her body weight before her pup is weaned.
Grey seal pups are weaned after losing their baby coat at 3 to 4 weeks of age. At this point, they weigh 40 to 50 kg; three times their birth weight.
The pups live off these fat reserves whilst learning to feed, which may take several weeks.
The adult females which are called cows become fertile soon after weaning their pups, mating with the adult males which are called bulls, who hold territories during the breeding season and may mate with over half a dozen cows.
Mating can take place on land or in water and pregnancy last for 11.5 months, there being a period of 3.5 months when the fertilised embryo does not attached to the wall of the uterus and its development is arrested ("delayed implantation"). As a result, pups are born at the same time each year.
Grey seals moult annually in the spring, 3 to 5 months, after the end of the breeding season.
In the wild, males may live for about 25 years, females for about 35 years.
We will of course keep you up to date with Bonnie's progress and keep your eyes open for pictures and videos.
If anyone see's a pup with or without a mum we really do appreciate a call so that we are aware of its location and condition but here is some advice.
A healthy pup looks like a big, stuffed maggot without a neck. However, a thin pup looks sleek (but not bony) and has a visible neck, like a healthy dog.
PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH THE SEAL. They can give a nasty bite, which will become infected by bacteria that live in a seal’s mouths.
Note: Do not allow dogs or other animals to harass a seal.
If a Seal is scared back into the water, it could then be washed out to sea by strong currents and be lost. You should not put a seal pup back in the sea as it may get into difficulty.
If a Seal pup is sick, thin or injured then we would ask you to contact the GSPCA immediately on 01481 257261 day or night
When reporting an injured, sick or abandoned seal to the GSPCA, please make sure you are able to supply the following information:
Exact location; nearest town / village
Position on the beach, and state of the tide
How long you have observed the pup; any disturbance / risk to it; whether the mother has been seen
Any wounds / obvious signs of illness
Length/colour/condition.
Caution:- Handling of any animal either domestic, wild, dead or alive may be potentially hazardous. Obvious dangers include bites, scratches and general hygiene issues. Common sense should be applied in all instances and, if unsure, seek additional advice or assistance. Personal hygiene should be taken into consideration after handling any animal, whether it’s domestic, wild, dead or alive.
To see some of the previous stories follow the links below
Extremely sick and weak Grey Seal Pup rescued at Corbier now at the GSPCAhttp://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/extremely-sick-and-weak-grey-seal-pup-rescued-corbier-now-gspca
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