A Triumph of the Turtle Spirit

March 7, 2013 10:21 AM

In 2008, a 227-pound loggerhead turtle named Yu was found by some fishermen off the coast of Japan after a shark attack. Both of her front flippers had been torn off and her prognosis was grim. Now, Yu can swim thanks to a new set of prosthetic flippers made by a team of researchers at the University of Tokyo. Naoki Kamezaki, curator of the Suma Aqualife Park where Yu currently lives, says, "Ours may be the only case in which a turtle with artificial limbs is still swimming without a problem."
posted by Copronymus (19 comments total)

See also the previous post about a turtle with artificial limbs that I forgot to include.
posted by Copronymus at 10:23 AM on March 7, 2013

Harry Connick Jr. and Morgan Freeman helped a dolphin in a similar situation.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 10:53 AM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]

Man wages divide-and-conquer campaign successfully; another victory in the War Against Nature.
posted by Apocryphon at 10:57 AM on March 7, 2013

In case anyone was wondering about the potential for making expensive sea rubbish when the turtle is again attacked by sharks, the last link notes that Yu is safe at the aquarium near Kobe.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:58 AM on March 7, 2013

Cyborg turtle, whatever. Russians used a pencil.
posted by Behemoth at 11:33 AM on March 7, 2013 [3 favorites]

YAY TURTLE
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:34 AM on March 7, 2013 [3 favorites]

"Glub glub, I never asked for this" - Yu
posted by hellojed at 11:38 AM on March 7, 2013

Well, that should keep Gamera's fiery wrath at bay for a few more years. But next time, we may not get so lucky.
posted by PlusDistance at 11:39 AM on March 7, 2013 [3 favorites]

Thus, the functions of forelimbs are important for sea turtles’ locomotion.

That... is... usually the purpose of limbs, isn't it? Heck, even I sometimes find my forelimbs important for locomotion, and I am usually bipedal. Bipedal-ish, at least.
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:56 AM on March 7, 2013

In 2008, a 227-pound loggerhead turtle named Yu was found by some fishermen off the coast of Japan after a shark attack.

I love sentences like this. Like there was this turtle who had been named Yu her whole life, and the fishermen found her all injured and stuff, and checked her wallet, and found out her name was Yu.
posted by phunniemee at 12:01 PM on March 7, 2013 [13 favorites]

I am really pleased that some people saw a ruined animal and accepted the challenge to fix it. MAN I REALLY LIKE THAT A LOT.
posted by SharkParty at 12:31 PM on March 7, 2013 [4 favorites]

I am really pleased that some people saw a ruined animal and accepted the challenge to fix it. MAN I REALLY LIKE THAT A LOT.
posted by SharkParty

Squintin' at you real hard man. Real hard.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 12:34 PM on March 7, 2013 [19 favorites]

Needs Six Million Dollar Man sound effects.
posted by Kabanos at 12:37 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]

Meanwhile, researchers at Yokohama National University have fitted a toothless shark with a set of dentures...
posted by neroli at 12:44 PM on March 7, 2013 [4 favorites]

How ironic would it be if it wasn't a shark attack that maimed the turtle, but being run over by a Sea Shepherd ship?
posted by Metro Gnome at 2:54 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]

:D
posted by turgid dahlia 2 at 2:57 PM on March 7, 2013

Save turtle, slaughter dolphins. I guess turtles aren't tasty. Sorry, living in Korea for too long has made me cranky about the Japanese. Hell, it's made me cranky about humans.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:02 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]

On a related note to the dolphin and the turtle, butterfly wing transplants exist.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:56 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]

Tortoise Has Leg Replaced With Swivel Wheel, is Doing Fine
posted by homunculus at 4:56 PM on March 8, 2013