How Do You Give A Giant Turtle A Physical? Carefully
Aquariums Resident Heavyweights Have Annual Doctor's Visit
POSTED: 10:36 am EST February 12,
2009
UPDATED: 1:26 pm EST February 12,
2009
Email
Print
BOSTON -- Veterinarians at the New England Aquarium had their work cut out for them as they prepared to give four giant sea turtles their yearly physical exams Thursday.The trick is in getting the four reptiles, all of which weigh hundreds of pounds, out of their tanks and onto tables so they can be examined.Aquarium workers said divers have to move the four turtles past some sharks and a Moray eel in order to get them to the vet. Once there, the exams were expected to take about 20 minutes.Scheduled for their visits were the aquarium's 200-pound male loggerhead sea turtle "Retread," and a 160-pound female loggerhead sea turtle named "Carolina."Also up for an exam was the aquarium's most well-known tank resident, the 560-pound "Myrtle" dubbed the "Queen of the Giant Ocean Tank," by aquarium workers, and "Scute," a young Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle.Check back on NewsCenter 5 and the Boston Channel.com later for exam photos and videos.
Gigantic Sea Turtles Get Check-UpsCopyright 2009 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
