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Turtle with shoulder disease: "Helmuth" no longer needs the roller board
Photo: Roland Weihrauch / picture alliance / dpa
Several months passed successfully on a specially made roller board: the more than 100 kilogram spurred turtle "Helmuth" from the Gelsenkirchen Zoo can walk again without support.
“We hope that he can continue to do without a roller board.
We observe that of course, ”said the head of the“ Zoom-Erlebniswelt ”, Hendrik Berendson, of the dpa news agency.
The custom-made product by a Bochum orthopedic technician, which the zoo presented at the beginning of June 2021, is available in the event that the animal should need a walking aid again.
"Helmuth" suffers from shoulder arthritis.
"It wasn't a overnight process," said Berendson.
The turtle, who is over 20 years old, was given the roller board last year to relieve the shoulder joints.
The heavyweight turtle's joy of moving has increased, it has become more agile.
The plastic bowl in which »Helmuth« was placed should also help to train the animal's muscles through movement.
The zookeepers had reduced the times with the roller board, which was attached to the turtle shell with straps.
In consultation with the veterinarian, it was then decided that "Helmuth" should initially move around again without aids.
fek / dpa