Tortoise Has Leg Replaced With Swivel Wheel, is Doing Fine

Not quite as adorable or as endearing as the dog with four prosthetic legs, but still pretty adorable and endearing, the above tortoise, named Gamera, sustained severe thermal injury and tissue damage from an unknown source. The 12-year-old African spur-thighed tortoise had the damaged leg amputated up to the shoulder at Washing State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and replaced with a swivel wheel — basically, one of those wheels commonly found on the bottom of office chairs. Don’t worry, the wheel wasn’t drilled into the turtle, but was attached to its shell with an epoxy adhesive. As a precaution, Gamera was given a feeding tube in order to keep his nutrition up, and he has gained three pounds since before the procedure took place. The little guy seems to be doing fine. Check out a video of him rolling around and eating some grass below.

(WSU Today via Obvious Winner)