National Geographic recently visited The Turtle Hospital to film one of our sea turtles for their new 3D channel launching early next year. One of their premier shows, a special focusing on jellyfish is due to air on National Geographic’s new 3-D channel in February or March of 2011. National Geographic specifically asked for a small loggerhead turtle to film eating a moon jellyfish. We had the perfect one in mind…Scooter! Scooter is a two year old Loggerhead who currently represents The Turtle Hospital and his species by visiting schools and events. He helps educate children and the public on the importance of sea turtle conservation. Scooter was the lucky little turtle chosen to get his 15 minutes of fame and wound up loving the camera!
Working together, National Geographic and The Turtle Hospital had to entice Scooter to eat a tiny little jellyfish in front of a huge HD 3-D camera. Turtle Hospital staff had to first get Scooter near the camera by feeding him little pieces of squid! At first Scooter was a little wary, but then started gobbling up all the squid and chasing after the camera and the cameraman! The tiny moon jelly was then placed into the pool and Scooter swam right up to the camera and ate it! They got the perfect shot on their first and only take. Keep an eye out for this episode to air.
Evan Jackson, a dive boat captain with Atlantis Dive Center phoned the Turtle Hospital early this morning to report a small sea turtle floating in the canal behind the dive shop. Staff drove up to Key Largo and picked up the post hatchling Loggerhead Sea Turtle that had been rescued from the canal containing large tarpon and boat traffic.
Scooter should be in the Sargassum seaweed, floating far out in the ocean, which provides a food source and cover from predators. The (aprox) 6 week old turtle had either been “washed back” due to storms or was from a nearby nest and became disorientated. Being slightly emaciated, the treatment will be plenty of food and then a boat ride out to the Gulf Stream and placed in a Sargassum seaweed patch.
Scooter has been doing great since his rescue last year. Scooter is no longer the tiny emaciated hatchling we remember. Scooter is now a happy, healthy post hatchling Loggerhead sea turtle. If you ever had the opportunity to meet Scooter on your visit to the Turtle Hospital you probably remember this small turtle quickly swimming towards you, greeting you mouth open, looking for some squid! However, Scooter will not be released just yet. Most hatchling sea turtles have a short stay here at the hospital. As soon as they eat well we release them back into the Sargassum Weedline. However, we have found a place for this little Loggerhead as our educational animal. This means that when we attend schools or educational events we will bring him on the road with us to help teach people (especially children) about sea turtles and the danger they face. Once Scooter celebrates his 5th birthday, or reaches approximately 30 cm. he will be released.