Vets use herbal medicine to treat sick and injured turtles

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Vets use herbal medicine to treat sick and injured turtles

December 31, 2017 - 08:49
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A research facility has successfully nursed sick and injured turtles back to health using traditional herbs.

Adult hawksbill turtle.

At a research institute in Malaysia, vets are using herbs as another option to treat injured or sick turtles.

Dubbed the “turtle hospital”, the Fisheries Research Institute in Rantau Abang, Terengganu, Malaysia have managed to successfully treat eight injured turtles using traditional herbs.

The turtles which the facility treats suffer from natural illnesses, or have been injured after being caught in trawl or ghost nets.

“In fact, the Endangered Marine Species Rescue Team comprising the Rantau Abang FRI, Terengganu Fisheries Department and the Johor Veterinary Services Department recently treated two three-year-old hawksbill turtles which were injured after being trapped in such nets,” said Mohd Tamimi Ali Ahmad, the Institute’s Marine Mammal Branch chief.

Turmeric and aloe vera were used in the healing process. In addition, the vets fed the turtles specially formulated food made of blended banana, papaya and brown sugar three times a day.

Despite the success of the treatments, Mohd Tamimi Ali cautioned that the choice of treatment would depend on the severity of the injury.