Thursday, April 9, 2009

Sea Turtle With One Flipper

Mom's friend Carole told her about this story today. Carole volunteered at an aquarium in NJ and the sea turtle they had there came from the same place this turtle lives, Sea Turtle, Inc. in South Padre, Texas. I love a happy story and this one definitely made my day.

Allison is a 5-year-old green sea turtle who lost three flippers during a shark attack in 2005. She was giving little chance of surviving, but she recovered from her injuries and soon found a place in the hearts of her rescuers at Sea Turtle, Inc. Since arriving there, she has been swimming in circles because that's all she can do with her right front flipper. She could never be released into the wild with one flipper, but the people that work with her wanted to increase her quality of life in captivity. What could they do?

Tom Wilson, a 21-year old intern at Sea Turtle, Inc. came up with the idea of building a wet suit for Allison. He designed a black neoprene suit with a carbon-fiber dorsal fin on the back that would allow her to glide through the water like other turtles. The fin acts like a rudder, thus providing her with stability, and she can change direction by varying the strokes of her lone flipper. On Wednesday, researchers put the black neoprene suit on her and she swam like a regular turtle once more. She was finally set straight and is now an ambassador for her endangered species.

Here is a video of Allison in action. She is really a trooper and I hope I can visit her in Texas one day. Until that time comes, I will watch her video and be reminded that there is hope for sea turtles everywhere.

8 comments:

Salinger The Pug said...

Wow! This is such a cool story!

You should host your own Pug News show about animals and environmental advancements...we'd totally watch it!

Have a great weekend!!!

Love,
S-Dog

Stubby said...

Hey Salinger - I'm glad you liked the sea turtle story. Mom works with sea turtles and loves them as much as I do.
I hadn't thought about hosting my own Pug News show, but I think it is a great idea. I could have special guest pugs join me, like you, Pugsley, and Pearl. You guys could be my special correspondents!
Have a pugalicious weekend! Stubby xoxo

Kelly said...

Oh Stubby! Count me in as a news correspondent!

My Momma saw this story on the news yesterday, and of COURSE she started crying! What a special story!

Stubby said...

Pearly Poo - You will be the cutest lady pug news correspondent ever!
My mom cried too when she saw this story, I just didn't put that in my post. It doesn't take much to get Mom crying - almost anything animal related and she leaks like a faucet. Stubby xoxo

Pugsley and Lola said...

I love that story!! We don't get to see sea turtles in Indiana.

I like the idea of you having a Pug News show:) That would be lots of fun!!!

Happy Easter!!
XOXOXO
Pugsley

Stubby said...

Pugsley - We only have one sea turtle in Chicago and he's at the aquarium. Mom visits him once in a while, but I have never visited him.
I think you would be great on the Pug News show. I'm glad you are one board with it. Stubby xoxo

Unknown said...

Wow what a great story! thanks for sharing StubbyPug! we put your picture on our blog because you are just too darn cute!!!
xxxooo

Stubby said...

Nancy and the fatties - I'm glad you guys liked the sea turtle story. I can't believe you put my picture on your blog - thanks so much! I am heading over there to check it out after I finish typing this. Stubby xoxo