'Bionic' turtle survives shark attack with prosthetic fins

A 25-year-old female loggerhead sea turtle that survived a shark attack but lost its front fins in the process is finally getting prosthetic replacements.

 

The turtle, named Hu, was discovered in 2008 when she was accidentally pulled up in the nets of fishermen, who turned her over to the Suma Aqualife Park in Kobe, Japan.

 

"The most recent development is comprised of two rubber fins, held together by a slip-over vest to prevent Hu from breaking free. The aquarium's staff say the fins have helped Hu swim just as easily as before the accident — a pretty remarkable feat, considering the turtle's 32-inch long shell and 220-pound body," tech site Mashable reported.

 

 

Previously, researchers at the aquarium had experimented with 27 pairs of artificial limbs for Hu.

 

But Mashable said this was not the first time an injured animal got replacement body parts.

 

It cited the case in 2004 of a dolphin at an Okinawa, Japan, aquarium - which was treated with a replacement rubber tail fin after it lost its own due to illness. — TJD, GMA News