"April" the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

April is an Olive Ridley sea turtle with an extraordinary story shaped by rescue, resilience and ongoing support.

Originally rescued from the Maldives, April was found entangled in ghost fishing nets with a plastic bag around her neck. The injuries she sustained from the netting and plastic pollution were life-changing and included the loss of her front right flipper, damage to her left flipper and lung complications. As a result, April is unable to dive to feed independently, meaning survival in the wild is no longer possible.

In 2021, April found a new home at SEA LIFE Loch Lomond, where her habitat has been purposefully designed to recreate a natural, enriching environment. She now plays an important role in helping visitors understand the impact of plastic pollution and the harm it can cause to marine life.

As part of her ongoing health management, our veterinary radiography team supports April through regular CT scanning. She is carefully positioned in a purpose-built support structure that allows her to remain comfortable and stable throughout the scans. The CT images captured enable her specialist veterinary and animal care teams to monitor her health and condition over time and help them make informed decisions about April's ongoing care and wellbeing.

  

April’s story highlights the importance of advanced diagnostic imaging and how it can support informed, ongoing care for remarkable animals like her. We are proud to play a small part in April's journey and wish her every happiness for the future.

You can read more about April’s story and her life at SEA LIFE Loch Lomond on their website.

If you would like to learn more about our mobile diagnostic imaging services, or to discuss a specific case, please get in touch with our team at enquiries@burgessdiagnostics.com