The turtle was given the name Om Sin, Thai for "piggy bank", by the media. A one-of-a-kind operation was ordered for Om Sin, funded in part by 15,000 baht worth of public donations. But for Prof Nantrika Chansue, the director of the Veterinary Medical Aquatic Research Centre (VMARC), the discovery didn't come as much of a surprise. For two weeks, Om Sin was fed nutrient-rich food and medication to strengthen her for the high-risk procedure. "When a human or animal given anaesthesia falls asleep that quickly, it often means their liver isn't working well," Prof Nantrika explained.

Source: Bangkok Post March 11, 2017 23:58 UTC