“It's a Kemp turtle.
They are fragile, it is better to have a scanner.
Gently Choupette ”, launches veterinarian Laureline Belluau.
In his hands: a marine turtle "in critical condition" discovered the day before by a walker after being stranded on the beach of Naujac-sur-Mer, in the Gironde.
It has since been entrusted to the Center for Studies and Care for Marine Turtles (CESTM) in La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime) specializing in the rescue of these endangered reptiles.
A race against time then begins and always begins with a complete examination of the animal.
Blood test, x-ray, scanner: the CESTM relies on the specialized equipment of a veterinary clinic to establish a diagnosis.
“We pool our skills.
If the turtles spend the first three days, we have a 90% chance of survival, ”explains Florence Dell'Amico, biologist and head of CESTM.
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Called LK3324, the turtle of the day "hypothermic and dehydrated" is auscultated closely.
“Especially the lungs, to check for possible pneumonia.
The bones also, at the level of the legs, gateways for infections which can very quickly degenerate ”, detail the veterinarian and the biologist.
The strandings of Kemp's turtles have been increasing for several years on our coasts.
Scientists are struggling to explain it and rely on these rescues to accumulate data.
"The goal is also to develop easily reproducible treatment protocols", recognizes Florence Dell'Amico.
That day, the scanner did not reveal any anomalies.
Healed and fully recovered, the LK3324 turtle will be able - if all goes well - to return to sea next summer.