Thursday, July 21, 2011

Wheelin' Tortoise

A 12-year-old African spur-thighed tortoise shows off his new front "leg" at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. Gamera had to have his leg removed after an infection set in. To aid in the tortoise's recovery, doctors at WSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital replaced his leg with a small swiveling ball-type caster attached to its shell with an epoxy adhesive. AP Photo/BCU/WSU, Henry Moore, Jr.

The nearly teenage mutant turtle is particularly good at moving toward food, and has gained 3 pounds since the wheel was attached. He's getting around too since the caster-style appendage allows navigation on both flat and lumpy surfaces like lawns. The 23-pound tortoise was named Gamera after the giant flying turtle of the old Japanese monster movies. 
I love this happy story, don't you?

2 comments:

said...

Totally warmed in the heart here. Had no idea that doctors could even perform this kind of procedure on a turtle.

The Queen Vee said...

Thinking outside the box has given this turtle a life, a say hip hip hooray to those WSU vets!