Mumbai: 5-yr-old Turtle Tara released back in the ocean

Friday turned out to be indeed a perfect 'Women's day' for Tara, the lone female Green Sea Turtle from Mumbai's Taraporewala aquarium, who found freedom after being released in the open sea at Dahanu by members of Wildlife Conservation and Animal Welfare Association (WCAWA) and curator of the aquarium.

According to officials from the aquarium, the decision to release her was taken on January after they realised that building a larger tank for her, as per the instructions of experts, would require considerable time.

Tara who has battled several odds and survived, was first shifted to Dahanu's turtle rescue and rehabilitation facility run by WCAWA and Forest department in an extremely critical condition on June 6 last year after suffering from enteritis, which had caused the death of two turtles — a green sea and another a hawksbill from the aquarium.

Dr Dinesh Vinherkar, wildlife veterinarian and turtle expert associated with WCAWA who nursed Tara back to good health informed that after complete recuperation she was sent back to the aquarium in July and they had instructed to keep her under observation and off display for few months.

"By October she was fit and we suggested that she be shifted to a large and properly designed enclosure, but since it could not be done due to various constraints and lack of bigger enclosure at the aquarium she was sent to Dahanu facility on January 31," he informed.

Back at Dahanu turtle facility, Tara was kept in a large pool and with the aquarium officials giving a go-ahead for her release Dr Vinherkar and his team began carrying out swim tests to check if she could manage out in the open sea.

"We carried out three swim tests including the one on Wednesday and the results were positive and since she is just five-years-old we were sure that releasing her was in her best interest," said Dhaval Kansara Founder of WCAWA adding that she was also microchipped.

On Friday, Tara was taken on a boat and was released by Vinherkar, Kansara and Pulkesh Kadam, curator of the aquarium with the team cheering as she swam quickly out of sight within no time.