TIMES OF INDIA (New Delhi) 28 August 10 Out of pond, four-legged visitor turns turtle
Mangalore: Brothers Sumukh and Shubhang recently had a small four-legged visitor drop by at Mosaco Apartment, Nehru Avenue cross road at Lalbagh here. The brothers, who were playing spotted a distressed Indian pond turtle in the grass plot within the compound wall. They took this new find him and tried to make it comfortable by giving it a wash in a tub and leaving him alone.
But the turtle was very restless. The brothers browsed the net for further information about this reptile and tried to give it food - cabbage and spinach - as suggested on the net. But when the turtle refused to nibble, it had them all worried. The turtle inexplicably also opted to stay in the corners of the room. Each time the turtle walked across the house, it searched for a corner.
Meanwhile, the boys' father called up the authorities of Dr Shivaram Karanth Biological Park at Pilikula for guidance. The boys later spotted that the turtle had got a crack on the bottom shell and the same could have been the result of the reptile falling from a height or a vehicle inadvertently running over it. The turtle could not even crawl properly.
The next day, the turtle was a bit friendlier, but it continued to hide and stay in the dark. They later fed it some prawn curry. Much to the delight of all, the turtle gulped down the offering bringing relief for all concerned. The boys and their parents went to the Park and handed it over to Jerald Vikram Lobo, the scientific officer there. Vikram told TOI that the turtle was recovering and was in fine shape. Noting that it is not unusual to find Indian pond turtles in urban setting, Vikram said this is true since modern habitats have come up in places that once used to be home to these reptiles. The park is home to many such rescued turtles, Vikram added.
Out of pond, four-legged visitor turns turtle