Happy Turtle Stories

This is a page in which I hope to share some of our turtle rehabilitation stories.  We are not a turtle shelter, but we do have the occasional turtle in need that we help out.  Turtles are amazingly resilient and given the right opportunities, they can usually be brought back to good health.  Here are their stories.

Disclaimer:  We work with animal control and licensed rehabilitators only.  Do not drop off your turtles and expect these to be your stories!

1. The Mata Mata with septic dermatitis.  Two Mata Mata turtles were brought into the emergency hospital and given up by the owner.  One was so severely effected, that it had to be humanely euthanized.  The other turtle was turned over to Chicago Exotics for rehabilitation.

Pictured above are the two turtles at the ER.

This is the turtle that was brought to our clinic.  After 4 weeks of attentive medical care, this turtle was ready to go to an appropriate home.  We found a wonderful home with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.  He is doing wonderfully!  We thank Leslie for providing such a caring environment!

Here he is in his new home!!

We receive wildlife from time to time.  Through the local animal control usually.  Pictured below are some examples of shell repair.

This is a close up 3 weeks into the healing process.  This turtle healed completely and was able to return to the wild.

Snappers are dangerous and difficult to work with.  We were able to use a special bone cement on this one. She had lots of old injuries.  Snappers are usually hurt when nest searching during egg laying season.  With so much urban encroachment, turtles are finding themselves often in harms way.  Please be careful when driving, etc. She was returned to the wild.

We currently have a 5 inch Testudo marginata at the hospital that is looking for a home.  He is herpes positive and will need medication for life.  He can not go into a home with other tortoises, as this virus is contagious.  

Flip found a home this week.  He now has a wonderful, loving family to spoil him!  We miss you, Flip.