A gruelling but inspiring rehab journey is unfolding for Puzzle, the green sea turtle who survived catastrophic injuries after being struck by a boat in February.
An update posted to Facebook provided some insight 47 days into Puzzle’s recovery journey.
The Association of Reef Keepers (ARK) rescued Puzzle and she defied the odds by pulling through major surgery to reconstruct her badly fractured shell. However, as the Canines Cats & Critters BVI veterinary team and volunteers from ARK have discovered, that was just “the tip of the iceberg” for her rehabilitation.
The around-the-clock care required for Puzzle over the past two months has taken tremendous dedication, manpower, expensive equipment and sheer ingenuity from ARK volunteers and clinic staff. The massive 143-pound turtle cannot have her injuries submerged, so she currently resides in a large pool that must be drained and refilled twice daily by carrying in buckets of fresh seawater.
A specialized wound vacuum, normally intended for human patients, is attached to Puzzle at all times to accelerate healing. But adapting the equipment for an unusual patient like a sea turtle has been “a steep learning curve” according to the update. The vacuum dressings must be changed every couple days by affectionately dubbed “turtle vacuum expert” Claire Dunning and volunteers in a two-hour process.
Complicating matters, Puzzle has yet to eat voluntarily since her ordeal.
Three times per day, she is fed a special blend of sea grass, vegetables, medications and imported critical care food through a feeding tube. After each feeding, her front end must be propped up for about an hour using a repurposed car engine hoist and straps to prevent regurgitation.
While there are signs Puzzle’s wounds are healing, the turtle still faces months of rehab at this pace. Plans are underway to transfer her to a better-equipped facility in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but transporting an endangered species across borders has proved challenging with permitting delays.
Through it all, Puzzle’s incredible caregiving team remains dedicated to giving her “the best chance” at survival and release. ARK has established a donation page at www.bviark.org to assist with her ongoing costly medical expenses.
Persons can also call 284-545-5964 to donate directly to her medical bill.