Turtle Rescue
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sun 29 May 2016 22:57
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Turtle Rescue - An Injured Chap Gets So Much
Support  We parked Baby Beez on the beach and saw this group
tending an injured turtle. Kneeling in the water was
Mitch, with the orange bucket – a German chap, diligent in his splashing. The
lady in the black top is Mitch’s mum Diane, a crew member from the midday ferry
and the chap in the striped tee shirt was from China, equally busy with the
splashing. 
 His front right flipper was a messy
stump, he had been attacked by a shark.
His natural instinct was to get himself to a beach, to gather
his wits and strength. Sadly, he was not able to dodge a propeller on his way
in, so the poor creature also has two shallow slashes at the
back of his shell.   Considering
there were a hundred and twenty people off the earlier ferry, very few came to
offer help, the handful that did come to take pictures soon meandered back to
the pack. Billy Connolly was not wrong when he said navy blue people (who come
from cold climes) go white after two weeks in the sun – this chap was so white he had an
iridescent glow.
The lady was only exposing the backs of her hands to the sun..........woolly tights,
really............  Another member of
the crew – with a degree in marine biology brought a sun shade tent over. The little chap
didn’t mind being manoeuvred in, but he saw the sun beating though the breeze
netting at the back and thought he had to escape. Turned round, he soon settled
once more. The group continued to work tirelessly until the German lad and the
Chinaman had to catch the two o’clock
ferry. Bear now had an important job, to stand on
the back of the tent, to hold it in place against the little waves and to
keep the breeze netting flat to the sand. The incoming two o’clock ferry dropped
off a stretcher to use when the four o’clock would be used as transport for the
little fella. During our time as a group we did learn some interesting
factoids. The beach here, despite being pristine, is 98.8% silica so it never
gets hotter than 18 degrees Centigrade. Turtles eggs only develop in 24 degrees
plus. Such a shame to think that nearly four miles of perfect sand is useless as
a nesting ground. Turtles enjoy eating jellyfish and the scene in Nemo
where the group appear off their heads is driven by fact – the toxins in the
jellies, especially the irukandji give them a natural high. It
has also been reported that dolphins pass a puffer fish between them and get
high on the toxins. Nature does some remarkable
things. 
 Sham, one of the crew did a great job
holding our injured lad in place. Mitch did a fantastic job
holding his ‘stump’ up off the sand. He seemed quite relaxed
now. His little head came up every few minutes
for a breath and he seemed to understand we were all there to help
him.    Finally it was time to see him on the
stretcher and gently slid up the
gangplank , settled by the
seawater hose. Off Orca
goes.    The main
rescuer, ‘Mitch’
(Mitchell who last week dressed in cap and gown as he graduated in Brisbane with
a degree in law. He is to do some conveyance work and carry on with his interest
in a men’s fashion company – we wish him all the very best). Such a gentle
giant, with enormous patience, he only left his charge for a few minutes to
carry one of the crew to the passenger end of the beach and to grab a shirt as
his skin was reddening. Other than that few minutes he held, supported, splashed
and calmed the turtle for nearly five hours. It was right that he be one of the
men to settle him on the ferry. Mitch’s mum and dad, Lyle and Diane – support crew,
equally as patient as Mitch. Lovely to meet such selfless and kind people.
Diane took our picture as support
crew, behind us the ferry en route to pick the passengers up from the
other end of the beach.  Back on Beez we silently hoped for our three
flippered friend as we watched the four o’clock round
the bend and disappear. As
soon as we get a signal we will try to find out about our new friend. Good Luck
to him. Email
on the first of June - Brodie is resting in care at the moment here at the Whitsunday Turtle Rescue Centre, and he is currently on some pain medication. He will then be transferred to Cairns Turtle Rehab Centre at the weekend for further care as his injuries are quite extensive. Many Thanks, and great work looking after him at the beach. Fiona Good news, so far so good. We will certainly
keep tabs on Brodie and hope to visit him in Cairns soon.
ALL IN ALL WE HOPE HE MAKES IT
SO PLEASED HE HAD A RESCUE
SERVICE |