(IN) Kids save a soft back turtle that strayed into school..

July 18, 2008

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Kids save a soft back turtle that strayed into school

Posted On Friday, July 18, 2008

Nilesh Nikade

A soft back turtle which strayed from a creek ended up in the compound of R J

High School in Shahad last week. The school children, to protect the creature

from falling prey to stray dogs, put it in a water tank. However, the turtle got

trapped in the narrow tank and animal lovers had to be called in to rescue it.

The turtle, roughly a foot in length, was slightly injured when found and was

surrounded by stray dogs. " The dogs were barking at the slow moving creature and

we thought they might try to eat it. We soon rushed at the spot and shooed the

dogs away. The turtle was then shifted to the water tank by the children, " said

Nirmal Mishra, secretary of the school.

However, the school authorities soon realised that the turtle had got stuck in

the tank and needed to be freed. " The water tank had a narrow opening and we

were not able to retrieve the turtle. We therefore called upon Nilesh Bhanage, a

volunteer of Plants and Animals Welfare Society, to help out, " added Mishra.

On Tuesday night, Bhanage and his assistants drove to the Shahad school, but

found it impossible to rescue the turtle. Bhanage said, " We were not able to see

the turtle in the tank.

Emptying the tank would not have helped as the narrow entry restricted anyone

from getting in. At night we went in search of a fisherman's net and were

fortunate to get one from a nearby village. "

Late that night, after almost two hours, Bhanage managed to rescue the turtle

with the net. " After getting the turtle out, I tried to hold it, but it was

scared and scratched me. I somehow took it to the ambulance and drove it to

Thane SPCA Hospital. "

The turtle has been kept in a pond at the SPCA Hospital. " It will be checked for

injuries, before being released at a safe place, " said doctors at SPCA.

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