Despite the best efforts of the team at Exploris aquarium in Portaferry, Columba the loggerhead turtle who was rescued in Donegal on Saturday has passed away through the night.
Columbo was discovered by a member of the public on Saturday in Donegal where the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group kept him overnight before bringing him to Exploris to continue his recovery.
[caption id="attachment_54481" align="alignleft" width="390"]
Columba the loggerhead turtle being cared for at Exploris in Portaferry which was rescued in Donegal has passed away.[/caption]The turtle was discovered in water of only 8 degrees, loggerhead turtles need to remain at a temperature of at least 15 degrees to survive.
The team at Exploris gradually warmed the turtle from his hypothermic state, taking turns to remain in the tank with Columbo, who at this stage didn’t have the energy to keep his head above water, and his temperature came back up to 16 degrees.
Columbo had picked up slightly with occasional spells of activity followed by long periods of lethargy and sleep.
The vet had given the loggerhead turtle an antibiotic injection and the team at Exploris monitored him carefully, though unfortunately he passed away during the night.
Aquarist at Exploris, Tania Singleton, explains how Columbo may have ended up stranded in Donegal.
She said: “Loggerhead turtles are found in the Atlantic and usually follow the Gulf Stream. It is possible that Columba became unwell and drifted or was washed off course by a storm. A post-mortem will reveal whether Columbo did have an underlying condition which may have caused his death. The team are incredibly saddened to lose this magnificent turtle.”
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