A Sea Turtle in Japan has been Fitted with Artificial Limbs; Swimming Well


Finally after the succession and failure of a five year trial, scientists have succeeded to place a new pair of front limbs to a turtle. This turtle was rescued in Japan in 2008 and according to biologists; its front limbs were lost due to a shark attack.

As told by Naoki Kamezaki, aquarium curator and director of the Sea Turtle Association, to Agency France Press, Yu Chan is a 25-year-old loggerhead sea turtle that has been fitted with a pair of rubber flippers. These have been attached to her body with the help of a fabric body suit. This body suit has been designed in the shape of a vest and has been slipped over her head. It now wraps the turtle around her shell. In no ways the mammal could take it off.

This is for the first time that a turtle has been transplanted with artificial limbs and is still swimming without a problem.

Yu was found entangled in fishing nets and was then brought to the Suma Aqualife Park in Kobe, Japan five years back. During that time, she was badly hurt and was able to swim at about only 60% of her normal capacity. Half of one forelimb and 1/3 of the other was missing to her.

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