GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) — A Gulf Coast box turtle at the Mississippi Aquarium is using a custom 3-D-printed wheelchair after injuries left him unable to survive in the wild.
Moses, a double amputee missing his back legs, came to the aquarium after he was struck by a car. Before the wheelchair, staff modified his habitat and attached marbles underneath his shell to help him slide around, but moving still took effort.
“With him, he spent a good chunk of his time just kind of sitting and chilling, because trying to move the extra weight with two legs, he wasn’t up for that,” said Christina Lavallee, curator of birds, ambassadors and herpetology. “But when we would bring him outside, you could tell that he was ready to go.”
Custom design helps turtle move
Coral Aquarist Jon Austin White designed the wheelchair using 3D modeling and several prototypes. White had only been on the job about a week when he heard about Moses.
“Our third prototype was the first one that really worked,” White said. “And it was just amazing to see him being able to move around.”
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The lightweight wheelchair is custom-fit to Moses’ shell and movement.
“He tried to kick it off at first, but really once he got used to it, and once he realized that he can move a lot better in it, he just took off,” White said.
The wheelchair lifts Moses off the ground, particularly his hind end, so he doesn’t have to drag himself around.
“The difference between now and then is that wheelchair gets him up off the ground a little bit, especially his hind end, so he doesn’t have to drag that around,” Lavallee said. “He’s able to use those wheels, and it’s kind of an off-terrain vehicle.”
Turtle helps educate visitors
Moses now helps teach visitors about the role box turtles play in Mississippi’s ecosystem, from controlling insect populations to spreading seeds across forest floors.
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Lavallee said turtles are often struck by cars during springtime when they move around looking for mates. She said people who help turtles cross the road should move them in the same direction they were going, or the turtle will try to cross again.
“This definitely increases his wellness because he can be more active, and it helps his mental stimulation because he’s able to go and explore things,” Lavallee said.
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