Turtle rescued after spending nearly 50 years confined to kitchen floor
Staff members at the sanctuary said Rockalina arrived in critical condition 15 months ago
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A turtle forced to live on a kitchen floor for nearly five decades is showing remarkable signs of recovery at an Atlantic County wildlife rescue.
The reptile, named Rockalina, was captured from the wild as an adult in 1977. Caretakers at the Garden State Tortoise facility report that she spent nearly 50 years confined to a kitchen floor, surviving on an improper diet consisting solely of cat food.
Staff members at the sanctuary said Rockalina arrived in critical condition 15 months ago, with severe health issues resulting from decades of neglect and malnutrition. Her condition was initially so precarious that rescuers were uncertain if she would survive the journey to their facility.
Because reptiles process recovery and metabolic changes at an extremely slow rate, sanctuary staff noted that it has taken over a year of specialized medical care and proper nutrition to stabilize her health.
Following her latest comprehensive veterinary evaluation, staff confirmed that Rockalina is officially out of danger and continues to thrive in her proper habitat environment.
