Two of three turtles at Mumbai's famous Taraporevala aquarium died within a week, after both turtles developed stomach ailments. Of the two turtle that perished, one was a hawsbill, the oldest surviving turtle in the city.
Meanwhile, the third turtle is also reportedly in a critical condition and is recuperating at the Dahanu turtle rescue and rehabilitation centre.
The deaths have shocked animal activists who have raised questions against the aquarium's upkeep. However, the officials from the aquarium denied the charges.
Ajinkya Patil, the aquarium's curator, informed that they had three female turtles- two green sea and a hawksbill. "One of the green sea turtle died on May 24 while the hawksbill died on May 31. Observing the deteriorating health condition of another green sea turtle, a decision was taken to shift it to the Dahanu facility on June 6," he added.
Further, Patil informed that the post mortem of one turtle indicated cardiac arrest. However, both had infections and they had consulted Dr Dinesh Vinherkar, a turtle expert.
The aquarium staff contacted Vinherkar on May 24, informing him that the green sea turtle was floating on the surface of the tank.
"After checking it, I collected its blood samples and sent it for diagnostics. It looked critical as lots of water had entered its lungs, still we stabilized it. By evening, the aquarium staff informed me that it had died," he said.
Vinherkar also had checked the hawksbill as well as the other green sea turtle on the same day and emphasized on maintaining hygiene in tanks and the officials had told him that they were doing the same as well as the two turtles were stable and feeding properly. However, on May 31, the aquarium staff informed him that the hawksbill was not responding.
"I was away from Mumbai so I could not go and the aquarium officials took it to the Mumbai SPCA where it was declared dead. On reaching Mumbai, I went to meet the aquarium officials and since the third turtle too was not eating and was unwell, I requested them to shift it to the turtle centre run by Wildlife Conservation and Animal Welfare Association (WCAWA)," he said adding that the turtle has been kept in a proper tank now.
