Recently, on a hot day in Victoria, Australia, Oscar Zeller, a rescuer with Vets For Compassion, was driving down the road when he noticed a brown object blocking his path.
Vets For Compassion
“[He] spotted what he thought was a rock,” a representative from Vets For Compassion told The Dodo. “He turned around, pulled over, and realized it was an eastern long-neck turtle hiding in its shell.”
Vets For Compassion
The dirt road was highly trafficked, with cars regularly flying past. Zeller knew this turtle wouldn’t survive much longer if he stayed here.
The rescuer carefully wrapped the turtle in a towel and moved him out of the road. All the while, the nervous turtle stayed tucked in his shell, perhaps trying to shield himself from the noisy area.
Zeller checked the turtle for injuries and found that he was in good health. He took the animal to a peaceful creek nearby and placed him in the water. Then he watched as the turtle happily swam away, back down the stream.
Vets For Compassion
“It was extremely rewarding,” the representative said.
Vets For Compassion team members hope this story encourages people to do the right thing when it comes to helping wildlife.
“I understand that not everyone is confident or trained in helping injured wildlife, and that’s OK,” the representative said. “But the most important thing to do is to call it in, that way trained volunteers are able to help the animals that need it. Even if people spot something and don’t stop, contacting a local rescue organization ensures that the animal can be attended to, and that’s half the battle.”
If everyone does their part, turtles like this one won’t have to worry; they’ll always end up back where they belong.
To help other animals like this turtle, you can donate to Vets For Compassion. 
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