A four-year-old tortoise which sustained a “mechanical injury” during desilting wok carried out at Siluvathur Tank was rescued and is undergoing treatment here.
The tortoise was injured when it was hit by an earthmover removing silt from the tank on Wednesday night. Workers rescued the injured tortoise and handed it over to Forest Department officials. The officials brought it to the nearest private pet clinic at RM Colony for treatment.
The shell of the tortoise was broken on the rear side and a sizable dent was found on its back.
Veterinarian A. Jeyaraj who treated it said that antibiotic was administered to it along with feed immediately as it had received only a mechanical injury.
“Tortoises are usually diurnal and reclusive. They are herbivores, feeding on grasses and leafy greens. We gave it coriander, mint and carrot leaves on Wednesday night and on Thursday morning. Now its condition is stable,” he said.
It needed calcium-rich medicines for quick repair of the damaged shell. If the front portion of the shell had been damaged, it could not have been saved as vital body parts like heart, head and lungs were located there.
Clear diagnosis could be done for such animals only through their behaviour. The tortoise breathed well and discharged urine and excreta thrice till Thursday evening. These activities proved that the internal organs and food system had been functioning well and its condition was good.
It also started moving easily. Special adhesives used to glue the fractured shell worked to a certain extent. Regular administration of calcium-rich medicines would ensure rapid recovery, Dr. A. Jeyaraj added.
Forest officials have been nursing the injured tortoise at the District Forest Office.
