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Save HMS an 82yr Galapagos Tortoise

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Information about HMS Galapagos adult male Tortoise.

HMS is a special animal he is 82 years old and came right from the Galapagos many years ago as a small animal. He was named after the ship Darwin went to the Galapagos on, Her Majesties ship (HMS)  the Beagle. I purchased him from Life Fellowship church about 30 years ago.

He has been DNA tested he is “Geochelone nigrita”  from Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos. He is listed in the Galapagos tortoise stub book Studbook #333 .

He is a quiet and friendly animal.

He is one of the few who don’t like to be sprayed by water and he doesn’t like really hot days often retreating into his hut in the afternoon.

His favorite spot is resting for hours under a big shade tree in the middle of the yard where he won’t miss anything.

He has lived quietly with Adolph and 8 females for over 40 years, but they did get into it once. He pushed Adolph (600Lbs) and three curators through a 2x6 fence.

HMS is featured in many of my videos over the years.

HMS became sick and we couldn’t put our finger on it for a while,  working with several well know vets his illness was difficult to spot until he took a turn for the worst.

We sent him up to UF Gainesville vet collage in upstate Florida.

Eventually  it was determined he had a rare  pneumonia and he had an eye infection which is causing temporary blindness in his left eye.

First he had to survived,  disseminated intravascular coagulation ((DIC) A problem that doesn’t allow his blood to clot)  before more invasive procedures could be preformed.

Then he went through a battery of test upper and lower endoscopic studies, X-rays, Blood work and cytology’s and three anesthesia’s ( always dangerous to anesthesia’s giant tortoises)

They Has to eventual had to drill a hole in the top of shell to insert an endoscope place a catheter inside his lung to deliver medication.

He also has an E-tube inserted (feeding tube) and a fluid line drilled into his shell (intraosseus line)

The medical expense is soaring and I am struggling to provide him with the best care for as long as he needs.

In just two weeks we are just about at $15,000
 
We expect the cost to climb to $30,000 before we can get him home and care for him here.

We hope you can help HMS out.

Please write for addition information if you need to.








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Donations 

  • Keidy Bonilla
    • $13 
    • 5 yrs
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Sam Pascucci
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