and the effects can be seen today

Vet Andrew Greenwood found himself treating an ancient and extremely sick Aldabra giant tortoise in Mauritius – with an historic link to Charles Darwin.

​ Landing on the island of Ile Aux Aigrettes on his latest Indian Ocean mission, Andrew was asked to examine a female tortoise with more than a century of history etched deep in her huge shell.

Faced with a dehydrated creature that had not eaten for weeks, he took blood samples, showing abnormal blood cell counts.  Samples were then sent for examination in the UK, highlighting the need for ongoing pathology and wildlife veterinary resources within island restoration programmes.

Her final treatment was a re-hydrating bath in a blue plastic drum pending further diagnosis.

Enjoying a life span of around 150 years, the thriving populations of Aldabra tortoises on both Mauritius and the Seychelles were subject to one of the world’s first translocation projects, prompted by Darwin.

Sick tortoise writes the latest chapter in Darwin story

Andrew’s ‘patient’ was likely to be one of those originally removed from Aldabra at the end of the 19th century and placed within Government buildings and sugar plantations.

In 1874 Darwin and other eminent scientists co-signed a letter to the Governor of Mauritius highlighting the plight of the giant tortoise, rendered extinct by plundering sailors in all but the Indian Ocean island of Aldabra, a far off atoll as yet untouched by man.

They asked him to translocate tortoises to Mauritius before a planned timber contract on Aldabra wiped them out once and for all.

The Governor duly obliged, explained Dr Carl Jones MBE, International Science Fellow Durrell Wildlife Trust and Science Director of Mauritian Wildlife Foundation.

“Tortoises came to Mauritius at the end of the 19th century and it was Darwin who suggested that a captive breeding project should be set up in Mauritius for giant tortoises because he felt they were endangered on their home island of Aldabra.

“So large numbers were brought over and this could well be one of them. They have survived and thrived, and they breed prolifically.”

The previous day Andrew had encountered a far healthier giant tortoise at Mauritius Wildlife Foundation’s Black River aviaries, and heard that she also was likely to be one original tortoises uplifted from Aldabra.

Darwin’s letter was prompted by his experience of visiting Aldabra on his five year round the world voyage aboard the Royal Navy exploration vessel, HMS Beagle, and news that Mauritius had granted a timber concession on Aldabra, threatening the last remaining tortoises. The letter read:

“If this project be carried out, or if otherwise the island be occupied, it is to be feared, nay certain, that all the tortoises remaining in this limited area will be destroyed by the workmen employed.

“We would, therefore, earnestly submit it to the consideration of your Excellency whether it would not be practicable that the Government of Mauritius should cause as many of these animals as possible to be collected before the woodcutting parties or others land, with the view of their being transferred to the Mauritius or the Seychelles Islands, where they might be deposited in some enclosed ground, or park belonging to the Government and protected as property of the Colony.”

Take a look at the video below to see Steve Leonard introducing a short video explaining why veterinary expertise is needed to rescue endangered species in the Seychelles and Mauritius.

Photos:

From top to bottom: WVI vet Andrew Greenwood with one of the original Aldabra tortoises brought over from Aldabra on this instigation of Charles Darwin: A sick Aldabra tortoise on the ‘examining table’ consisting of two breeze blocks, Ils aux Aigrettes; the sick tortoise rehydrates in a half barrel; WVI vet and founder Andrew Greenwood with a healthy Aldabra tortoise.

All credits to Debbie Nicholls.

Avian surgeon heads to India

This weekend avian surgeon Johanna Storm headed out to Ahmedabad on behalf of WVI. She is joining the team at the mobile veterinary surgery that is set up by the Jivdaya Charitable Trust to deal with birds injured during Uttrayan and the International Kite Festival. See the project page for more information.

WVI would not be able to provide veterinary expertise, support and training to conservation projects without our funders and supporters.

Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust has yet again awarded us with a grant for this project, the third year in a row. THANK YOU.

In addition the IZVG Clinic yet again held a raffle with donations from many local companies including: 10 the Coffee House, Haworth, The Design House, Halifax, Yorkshire Willow, falconry experiences with SMJ Falconry, and donations from L’Oreal.

The following companies have continued to support this project through provision of equipment:

Thank you for your support

Tiger events in the run up to Sumatran trek

As part of her midlife crisis, WVI Development Manager Olivia Walter has gathered a team of interested people in the Calder Valley, West Yorkshire to raise funds for the Sumatran tiger.

Tigery events will kick off this year with the Heptonstall 1st Brownies making tiger bookmarks and things to sell at the Heptonstall Festival later in the year. There will be a chilli and musical evening – ‘Chilli at the Piano’ – in Blackshaw Head. The Girl Guides will be serving at the ‘Tea for Tigers’ event in Hebden Bridge, Colden School will open a cafe, set up and decorated by the school, there will be a tigery evening fundraiser in Hebden Bridge and a sponsored attempt at the Yorkshire Three Peaks in some kind of tiger attire, on July 12th.

Please follow us on Facebook to hear more about the events as they develop.

Want to join in? Write to Olivia on info@wildlifevetsinternational.org

Can you help save wildlife?

For fundraising ideas see our ‘Get Involved‘ page.

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