Stella (Feb 24, 2008)

An adult female Loggerhead Sea Turtle was rescued by fishermen off of Gieger Key. The 226 pound turtle was floating and had a recent shark bite which removed over half of it’s right front flipper. The left front flipper was half missing due to an old wound and the left rear flipper was also missing due to an old wound. Stella’s fate is uncertain at this time as a turtle with only one flipper can not swim which it needs to do to come up for air. Doctor Mader and Turtle Hospital staff will evaluate the requirements for surgeries to close the fresh and old wounds and the possibility of the turtle becoming an educational animal.

Update – March 4, 2008 Dr Doug Mader and staff performed surgery to remove bone fragments and close areas of the wound using a radio scalpel. Honey is used to help the wound granulate in. Stella remains very strong and is eating offered squid. TH staff will continue to administer antibiotics / vitamins and do daily cleaning and dressing change of wound. Fitting the turtle with prosthetic front flippers is being discussed.

Update 06/25/08

Stella has unexpectedly died. Necropsy did not identify a specific cause and a number of organ biopsies has been sent to the lab for analysis.

Agnes (Feb 24, 2008)

Good Samaritan fisher folks reported a turtle in trouble in the Intercoastal waterway off of Islamorada. The sub adult Green Sea Turtle would surface for air and flip over on it’s back and struggle. Turtle Hospital staff met the boat at a nearby dock and were transported to the location. The turtle would swim normally underwater but became stressed and disorientated on the surface. After capturing the 156 pound turtle, it became apparent that it had been hit by a boat, possible twice. There was a deep wound across the top of the head, two deep wounds on the upper right carapace and four more wounds affecting the lower left marginal scutes. Agnes is very strong and staff is hopeful that treatment to repair the prop wounds will allow successful rehabilitation and eventual release.

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Update – March 4, 2008 Dr Doug Mader and staff performed surgery to remove bone fragments from the head wound and carapace wounds. An ultrasound was performed to ensure the body cavity has not been breached which could allow sea water to enter.

There appears to be damage to one of the upper eye nerves which results in the right eye not being able to “look” up. This could be the cause of the disorientation observed when the turtle would surface for air. In time it is expected that Agnes would learn to use her “good” eye and be able to compensate for the different fields of vision.

Illiana (Feb 21, 2008)

This juvenile Loggerhead Sea Turtle was rescued by fishermen off of No Name Key. The turtle was floating and has old prop wounds on the carapace. The turtle is very strong, eating well and being treated with antibiotics and vitamins.

Gypsy II (Feb 17, 2008)

A sub adult Loggerhead Sea Turtle was found floating and rescued  by fishermen off of Key West. It was brought to the Key West Bird Hospital where Turtle Hospital staff picked it up. Gypsy II is being treated for an intestinal impaction and is not eating so has to be “force fed” to ensure medication and nutrition is being administered.

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We have recently admitted several Hawksbill Post Hatchlings:

Tuck (Feb 17, 2008)

A post hatching Hawksbill Sea Turtle was picked up at Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo were it was floating in a high boat traffic area. Emaciated, it is currently being “force fed”.

Update March 20, 2008

The problem with having no appetite became apparent today when bits of plastic were found in Tuck’s tank and one was found exiting the turtle.

The problem of hatchlings being affected by plastic pollution is becoming more apparent. A recent study revealed close to one hundred infant turtle had died due to ingesting small bits of trash, possibly mistaking the translucent scraps as their normal food source.

Tuck remains strong so staff is hopeful for recovery and eventual release.

Update March 28, 2008

Tuck, unfortunately, has become a victim of plastic pollution. Even after passing a large amount of plastic pieces, there was still a number of bits that had completely blocked the intestine (found by necropsy).

Fito (Feb 16, 2008)

Also from Ocean Reef Club, found on the surface by the gas docks, a post hatching Hawksbill, was transported to the Turtle Hospital. It is swimming strongly and eating well.

Olivia (Feb 6, 2008)

A post hatching Hawksbill was rescued by a concerned citizen as it was being attached by birds in the Big Pine Key area. It is eating well and swimming strongly.

February 17, 2008

PICO, a juvenile Green Sea Turtle was rescued in December 2006, when found floating and having multiple fibropapilloma tumors.

Doctor Doug Mader performed several surgeries which included endoscope inspection of internal organs (to ensure no tumors were present on the inside) and surgeries to remove all external tumors. After a year of remaining free of any re-growth, Turtle Hospital Staff performed the release approximately 12 miles North of Marathon. This area of the Gulf has ample sea grass which is the Green Sea Turtle’s primary food source.

Brandy, an adult female Green Sea Turtle was rescued in July 2007. Reported to the FWC by Good Samaritan fishermen, she was anchored by two lobster traps with line wrapped tightly around her front left flipper. FWC dispatched two boats and accompanied by Turtle Hospital staff located the entangled turtle 45 miles West of Key West near the Marqueas Islands.

With considerable difficulty, the 342 pound turtle was captured, freed from the “anchor” and brought aboard one of the boats. The trap line was so tightly wrapped around the flipper, the skin and muscle was cut through to the bone.

Brandy (named by one of the FWC officers, after his daughter) was brought in to the docks at Stock Island and moved from the boat to Turtle Hospital ambulance using a large forklift. At the Turtle Hospital, due to the larger size and weight, a hydraulic crane was used to move the patient. (Brandy is the largest turtle ever rehabilitated at the Turtle Hospital).

Dr Doug Mader and staff performed surgery to completely remove the badly damaged flipper. Sea Turtles can survive in the wild missing a flipper and can continue to nest.

Brandy is recovering nicely. Her surgery wound is healing and she is receiving vitamins and antibiotics in addition to heads of lettuce as a food supply. She is expected to be released in February or March 2008.