The Observatory of Marine Turtles
Kelonia has a well equipped clinic for treating sick
or injured turtles. They are isolated or quarantined
in 2 metre tanks for treatment by a veterinarian who must
approve their good health before they are released back
into the natural environment.
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Chelonia mydas |
Eretmochelys imbricata |
Caretta |
Lepidochelys olivacea |
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|
2008 (jan/sept) |
- |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
2007 |
- |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
2006 |
4 |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
2005 |
2 |
2 |
- |
- |
Number of marine turtles taken in Kélonia’s care centre.
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Pomme This Young Hawksbill turtle was found by children, and showed an injury on the neck thought to be caused by a speargun. After recovering, «Pomme» has released into the wild, escorted by the children that had assisted her. |
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© Kelonia/E.Richard. |
november 2008
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Justatao This loggerhead turtle was the first turtle to benefit from acupuncture. After the operation necessary to extract the hook the turtle had in her throat, she stopped responding. She was reanimated and saved with acupuncture. |
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© Kélonia/S. Ciccione |
november 2008
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Olive The olive Ridley turtle is the least common species of turtles, and is rarely captured by long liners. «Olive» had swallowed a hook that was removed. She has now recovered and swims in the main pool of Kélonia waiting to be released. |
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© L. Bèche |
november 2008
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Circle This loggerhead was named « Circle » because she is the first turtle found with a circled hook, used to reduce bycatch. The shape of the hook seem to cause minor injuries compared to traditional hooks, which allow «Circle» to recover much faster. |
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november 2008
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 |
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The Rescue of a Nest January 27 2007 was an exciting day for green turtle tracks were discovered on a beach in west Reunion. Kelonia and Ifremer scientists visited the site and confirmed that the tracks were those of a nesting green turtle. However on February 23, because of the imminent arrival of Cyclone Gamede, Metoe France issued a warning concerning exceptionally high tides and the nest was moved to prevent its destruction. The move proved successful because on 20 March 40 hatchling turtles emerged and were released on the beach near St Leu. |
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before
after |
february/march 2007 |
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Accidental Capture On 30 November 2006 some concerned fishermen brought in an olive Ridley turtle that they had accidentally caught off the Reunion coast (21 03’ S, 54 53’E). When x-rayed a hook was found to be embedded in the back of the buccal cavity. The turtle was anaesthetised and operated upon to remove the hook. Three weeks later the turtle had recovered well enough to begin feeding and the injuries had healed cleanly. It did however lose 10% of its body weight during that time but is now in the process of regaining weight. |
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Radiography. |
november 2006
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Remains of a fish net On 4 November 2006 two turtles were enmeshed in a deep sea fishing net at 21 09’376”S, 55 10’81E. Both were alive. One was released but the smaller green turtle was weak and injured and brought to Kelonia for treatment. Fortunately its injuries proved to be minor and it soon took food and it was kept until its scars healed, its weight returned to normal and it was released. |
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Young Green Turtle |
november 2006 |
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Plastic Debris On 14 August 2006 a turtle floating on the sea surface was sighted by a fisherman from Etang Sale. It was in a weakened condition and its carapace was damaged. The fisherman notified the Reunion Aquarium which in turn notified the staff of Kelonia who collected the turtle. The injuries to the carapace and plastron proved to be old and the animal would not feed. It was put on a regime of antibiotics and fed manually with a vitamin rich meal. Regrettably the turtle continued to weaken and it died on 3 December. An autopsy revealed 260 grams of plastic waste in the stomach. |
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october 2006 |
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Kélonia, the observatory of marine turtles
Saint-Leu, La Réunion, France