ACRES Animal Care Update (8/4/2014)

At ACRES, we rescue many different types of animals with many of them requiring medical attention. These could be due to a variety of reasons. Two examples are that they could have been housed in poor conditions as an illegal pet or could have endured horrific injuries from traffic accidents/falls after being abandoned in unfamiliar urban environments. Treatments for these animals, reptiles in particular can vary in length.

For this week�s animal care update, let�s look at Polka (Pig-nosed turtle) and Kathora (Chinese stripe-necked turtle).

Polka was rescued after being kept as a pet in a small tank below at a HDB void deck late last year. The water quality in the tank was very poor. As a result, he suffered from fungal infections on his carapace. Pig-nosed turtles require good water quality conditions to survive. Polka had to receive daily treatments for his fungal infections and after four months, the fungal infections have healed.

Kathora, our Chinese stripe-necked turtle is a new addition to the ACRES wildlife rescue centre. He was found after being possibly run over by a vehicle at Pasir Ris. Our rescue team reached the location just after midnight to witness the horrific situation when they found Kathora with multiple fractures to his carapace and plastron. He was also bleeding from various parts of his body, including his mouth. Kathora was quickly brought back to ACRES where basic attention was given to flush the wounds and to ensure that blood was not choking him or hindering his breathing. He was then kept warm till we could seek medical help. We would like to thank the veterinary team from Pet Doctors Veterinary Clinic who helped to repair Kathora�s carapace. Kathora is in better shape now but it�s still a long road to recovery as he needs to be given antibiotics and constant critical care to ensure that he does not suffer from any internal infections while his carapace heals and fuses back together.

Pig-nosed turtles are already vulnerable whilst Chinese stripe-necked turtles are already endangered due to habitat loss, hunting and the illegal wildlife trade. Its sad to imagine what these turtles have gone through, after being abducted from the wild and transported vast distances only to suffer even more.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152076413851523&se..

Tweet

ACRES

ACRES (Animal Concerns Research & Education Society) is a pioneering Singapore-based charity and Institution of Public Character, founded by Singaporeans in 2001 with the aim of promoting animal welfare.

ACRES has six focus areas: Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, Wildlife Crime Investigation, Zoo Animal Welfare, Humane Education, Community Outreach and Promoting Cruelty-Free Living.

More Articles   |   Website