IC Quarantine Room for Turtles realized by Dierenlot. 

Since we receive many hundreds of often very ill turtles every year, there was an urgent need for special space in which animals could be cared for and treated individually at ICU level. We explained our plans to Stichting Dierenlot and received a Marten Stoopendaal dream cheque. Our dream has actually come true. The complete construction of the space has taken much longer than expected, mainly due to the scarcity of materials in the corona time. But now the ICU is already in full use and many animals have already been treated and recovered. 

Our IC has room for 25 aquatic turtles and 10 tortoises. If necessary, we can scale up a little bit. The room is fully insulated, has its own climate system for temperature and humidity and cleans at the virus and bacterial level. Each place has its own adjustable lighting and UVB light is available via daytime. In addition, we have various equipment available such as a real incubator, infusion and feeding pumps, oxygen, cardio measurements, ultrasound device and much more. In cooperation with our permanent veterinarian, we can now provide specialized turtle care at a very high level to deadly ill water and tortoises. 

Our ICU room is, so to speak, for the animals that really need individual, often life-saving care. In addition, we have different types of quarantine departments such as the pre-quarantine for newly introduced, non-sick-looking turtles. Our group pre-quarantine where new turtles are kept, who also enter in groups. Our HIGH RISK quarantine is specially equipped, including the negative-pressure ventilation and air disinfection treatment. This room is for animals that have (presumably) an infectious disease. Often these are viruses and bacteria that can travel through the air like a cold virus. To protect the other turtles and possibly ourselves, we use this space especially for these patients. The last quarantine department is divided into several places, these are the animals that are in LONG-STAY quarantine. Often these are special species for which no group space is available, or many tortoises that have to be quarantined for longer. These animals have to be screened for various diseases for a longer period of time and there are often problems with the legally required papers. Here the animals live in their own terrariums or stay as naturally as possible. Most stay here for a few months before they are allowed to continue living in the indoor and outdoor populations. 

You understand, in the whole row of quarantine departments there was still no ICU room for the really sick animals, we are once again very grateful to Dierenlot and all its donors for the sake of the turtles!