Abstract

The standardisation of protocols and discussion of therapeutic procedures in the rehabilitation of turtles affected by oil spills are necessary to optimise the recovery time and increase the chances of survival of these animals. This study aimed at reporting the processes adopted for the stabilisation, decontamination, rehabilitation and release of an oiled olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), rescued alive on September 23, 2019, at Santa Rita Beach, Extremoz municipality, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Its entire body was covered by oil. At first, the animal was mechanically dry cleaned using a gauze soaked in mineral oil in the keratinised regions (carapace and plastron) and a gauze soaked in vegetable oil was used on the oral, nasal, ocular, and cloacal mucous membranes. The second stage of the oil removal consisted of washing the animal with heated pressurised water (39 °C) and a neutral detergent using a soft foam sponge. The animal received treatment with antitoxins, antibiotics, analgesics, gastrointestinal protectors, and fluid therapy. After 7 days of treatment, the blood count showed that all the parameters were within the normal range. The oil cleaning process and the therapeutic protocol used in the rehabilitation of the olive ridley sea turtle were efficient.

Details

Title
Successful rehabilitation of an oiled sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) affected by the biggest oil spill disaster in Brazil
Author
Oliveira, REM  VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Attademo, FLN; Galvincio, J S; Freire, ACB; Silva, A S; Pires, JML; Lima, LRP; Aguiar, JMF; Moreira, AB; Melo, LIS; Gavilan, SA; Lima, SA; Lima, MA; Silva, FJL; Oliveira, M F
Pages
313-319
Section
Case Report
Publication year
2021
Publication date
2021
Publisher
Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS)
ISSN
03758427
e-ISSN
18059392
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2546536512
Copyright
© 2021. This work is published under https://www.agriculturejournals.cz/web/about/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.