A vet in western India painstakingly removed a fishhook last month from the mouth of an endangered softshell turtle.

Villagers spotted the reptile writhing in agony on the banks of the Singora river in Gir National Park in Gujarat state on September 26.

Dr Idrish located the stricken creature and took it to the animal rescue centre for treatment.

According to Idrish, the turtle kept retracting its head and neck making it difficult to remove the hook which was obstructing the animal's breathing.

"I decided to give an anaesthesia after that I was able to remove the hook from turtle nostrils," he said.

On September 28, Idrish released the turtle into its natural habitat and it swam away apparently entirely recovered from its ordeal.

The Indian softshell turtle, also known as the Ganges softshell turtle, is classified as "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

A softshell turtle was rescued by a veterinary doctor of the forest department of Gir national park in Gir district . Dr Idrish tells that on 26th September they received a call from a vilagers from Jambala village . Villagers informed us about a turtle tossing and turning in pain at the bank of Singora river .
After reaching there we found the turtle with a fishing hook stuck into his nostrils , due to this he was not able to breathe properly and if not removed can be life threatening . Doctor Idrish brought it to animal rescue centre where they first inspected and tried to remove it , as the doctor try to remove it the shy turtle used to go into its shell again and again . Due to this it was difficult for us to remove the hook . So I decided to give an anaesthesia after that only I was able to remove the hook from turtle nostrils .
Later after keeping the turtle into observation on 28th September turtle was released into its natural habitat . Due to the hook turtle’s buccal cavity and nostrils got little injury .
Dr Idrish tells that fishermen in villages uses small fish or wheat flour as prey in the fishing hooks. The turtle might have got injured while eating a bait
A softshell turtle is an endangered species