Points of View

Welcome to the latest update from the Australian Wildlife Hospital.

Bob the Green Turtle

There are some incredibly unique rescues that always stick out in your mind. In the case of Bob, I was lucky enough to be able to be part of both his rescue and his release!

A family holidaying in Tin Can Bay near Fraser Island called us while out fishing on their boat.  They had seen Bob the Green Turtle "bobbing" around in the bay for a few hours.  The family was able to get him into their boat and bring him into shore.  When we met him, he was covered in wet towels, and looking very flat and lifeless.  Green  turtles can grow to be well over 100 cm long and, as a juvenile, Bob was only 50cm long.  Little Bob survived the two hour drive back to the hospital, and was immediately seen by one of the veterinarians.

Bob’s rehabilitation was a great one; he slowly but surely kept getting better each week, until he was able to feed off the bottom of the pool and to submerge for long periods of time.

Soon enough he was swimming in the pre-release pool, exercising his muscles, preparing for his imminent release.  We would check on his progress each week and we were all so happy when he got the OK to go back to the ocean where he belongs.

With the dedication of the vets and nurses at the Australian Wildlife Hospital, Bob’s rehabilitation was very successful, and I was able to be involved in his release in November 2007.  It is definitely one of the most rewarding parts of my job, when you are able to see an animal through from rescue to release, as you are able to personally ensure their safety and survival.

Kate Winter

Rescue Unit

Archive Points of View

Nurses
Rehabilitation
Sea Turtles
Black Cygnet
Brushtail Possum
Rainy the Pelican
Slugger the Carpet Python
Kingy the Dolphin
Shumba the Swamp Wallaby