A combination of physical and innovative weight therapy is helping Kai, a loggerhead turtle, strengthen his weak lung and balance his buoyancy issues to ease pressure on his muscles.
Cape Town, South Africa (14 February 2025) – Whether injured or found stranded, the precious marine life that manages to find its way into the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation is always in for a treat with the best care!
Turtle Conservation Centre resident Kai, a gorgeous loggerhead turtle, knows this all too well! Rescued as a hatchling in October 2020 weighing just 53g, Kai now weighs a magnificent 57kg!
From the beginning, Kai’s life presented unique challenges. He struggled to stay balanced in the water, often floating vertically. X-rays, CT, and MRI scans revealed the culprit: unevenly sized lungs, making him more buoyant on one side. Compounding this issue was a severe lung infection.
The Foundation’s Laura du Toit shared that together, these issues caused Kai to be unbalanced in his swimming patterns and led to him developing uneven muscle tone.
“Thanks to the dedication and expertise of our veterinary team, Kai recovered from his lung infection, but the size discrepancy in his lungs remained a problem.
“Over the years, our team has worked hard to help get Kai and his lungs better. One of the first treatments used to alleviate the stress on his lungs was pulmonary physiotherapy, which uses vibrations to encourage the growth of his stunted lung. Our team also implemented swimming exercises to promote fitness, which proved to be very helpful for the growing Kai!”
In 2023, the team added ballast weights to Kai’s shell, a clever way to balance him and allow his weaker lung to strengthen. But Kai’s journey wasn’t without setbacks. His lung infection returned, requiring a return to the rehabilitation space for closer monitoring and treatment.
“Kai returned to the rehabilitation space for our team to be able to monitor him more closely and administer treatment for his infection,” explains Laura.
The turtle team then devised a new approach: a buoyancy device. This innovative tool helped Kai achieve equilibrium and stability in the water without the drag of the weights. The results were astounding!
Two consecutive CT scans showed his lungs were clear of infection, and his buoyancy had dramatically improved – giving the green light to his return to the I&J Ocean Exhibit!
“This is an exciting next step in his rehabilitation, and our team is thrilled to see him enjoying the sizable exhibit.
“While Kai will continue to receive regular physiotherapy, we are hopeful that he will one day be ready to return to his ocean home,” says Laura.
Sources: Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation
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