Turtle awaits prosthetic limbs after shark attack

[Guchi_Jnr]

A Japanese conservation group says it plans to fit prosthetic front limbs to a sea turtle injured in what marine scientists believe was a shark attack.

"We need to pay special attention as the forelimbs will have to be strong enough to [allow her] to climb up a beach," Erika Akai, a researcher at the non-profit Sea Turtle Association of Japan said.

"She should eventually be able to lay eggs on a beach."

The injured loggerhead sea turtle, with a 74-centimetre long shell, was named Yu after being rescued off south-western Japan following a suspected shark attack last summer, Ms Akai said.

The animal was placed in an aquarium in western Tokushima prefecture.

"Since we cannot release her like this, because her swimming capability is only at 60 per cent of that of a healthy turtle, we decided to make prosthetic fins for her," said Ms Akai, adding that the project would start in May.

The association has set up a fund and asked Japan's largest prosthetic limb maker in western Osaka prefecture to make the artificial fins.

"We are fully aware that it will be a difficult challenge," said a spokeswoman for the company, Kawamura Gishi Co.

"But we were moved by the passion of the association and decided to take part in the project."



Usually I like stories like this, but in this case, WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP!!

Turtle's legs/fins are a delicacy in Japan, and you can bet your bottom dollar, none of those guys are getting any prosthetic work done.

Just another example of Japan trying to flog itself to the world as being "humane".
 

[JTRIX]

^ although what you said is true GJ, but I believe there are some people that do care about animals and this is such a good thing for them to do (providing that they get the funds to do the surgery before the turtle dies...)

[StreakInTheSky]

Yeah I agree, there are people in Japan who do care about this stuff.

But I still don't see that turtle getting prosthetic limbs.

[ctz]

A shark ate turtle's limbs, therefore the turtle should die.  That's nature. Prosthetic limbs are just waste of money.