The Turtle Hospital in Marathon would like to invite residents and guests to Key West to participate in the release of “Stevie”, a 220 pound Loggerhead sea turtle that has been convalescing at the Turtle Hospital since November. The adult male was found off of Key West where he was found by Captain Steve of The Galloping Ghost. It was discovered at the Turtle Hospital that Stevie was suffering from a severe infection. After several months of antibiotics, Stevie will be returned home at Higgs Beach in Key West behind Solute’ restaurant. The event will be a sunset release on the beach at 6:00pm on Sunday May 2nd. Supporters are encouraged to come spend a beautiful evening on a Key West beach and wish Stevie luck on his return to the ocean.
Romeo, a nearly 10cm post hatchling Hawksbill sea turtle, was rescued from a boat basin in Islamorada. The little sea turtle has already had a rough life, Romeo is missing his right front flipper! Hatchling sea turtles face an enormous amount of predators, which is why females typically lay a hundred or so eggs per clutch. Ants, birds, crabs, raccoons, lizards and fish make up a small list of predators these hatchlings face.
Romeo will have a short stay at The Turtle Hospital. Staff will feed him small chopped up squid tentacles several times a day and give him plenty of time to rest. Once he grows stronger, staff will take him 20 miles offshore to the Sargassum Weedline. Although little is known about the life of a hatchling sea turtle, the Sargassum will provide food and camouflage for the vulnerable sea turtle for several years.
UPDATE June 22nd 2010:
Sadly our little Romeo has died. Romeo was struggling to eat and was not able to process calories. However the day after Romeo was rescued (April 17th) a second post hatchling Hawksbill was rescued in Key West. The hatchling was named Smithers and he is doing extermely well.
Wyland, famous for his amazing underwater paintings and murals, met with Turtle Hospital staff and a little Loggerhead named Scooter at his gallery in Islamorada and Key West. The Turtle Hospital was personally invited to the “Meet The Artist” event where staff was able to educate guests on sea turtles and the impact we as humans have on the ocean. During the event, Wyland created an original painting of our beautiful educational Loggerhead, Scooter.
This original one of a kind painting was donated by Wyland to The Turtle Hosptial. It is valued at $3,750. The Turtle Hosptial will be selling the painting for its estimated value with all proceeds benefiting The Turtle Hosptial. 100% of the proceeds will be used for the medical and surgical care our current 51 sea turtles desperately need.
If you are interested in this fabulous original piece of art by Wyland and would like to help support The Turtle Hospital please contact Turtle Hospital at 305-743-2552 or at turtlehosp@aol.com.
Thank you for your interest and support!
To celebrate the upcoming Earth Day Thursday, The Turtle Hospital in Marathon would like to invite residents and guests to the Keys to witness the release of Pal, a 200 pound Loggerhead sea turtle. The adult male will return to his ocean home on Thursday April 22nd at 9:00am at Coco Plum Beach in Marathon. After a month long stay at The Turtle Hospital, Pal is anxious to return home. Come celebrate this great day of awareness with The Turtle Hospital and Pal the Loggerhead sea turtle.
Bolin, a very small juvenile Green sea turtle, was rescued by The Coast Guard in Islamorada. It appears as though Bolin was either struck by a propeller or attacked by a predator. Although she escaped with her life, Bolin is missing part of the rear of her shell and her left rear flipper. The injury appears to be fairly recent but has already begun healing since she has been in our care. Currently staff is treating the small Green sea turtle with antibiotics to prevent infection and cleans and debrides the wound daily. Even though she is missing part part of her shell and one flipper, Bolin will be able to return to her home in the sea once the wound has healed.
UPDATE May 1st:
Bolin is released!
Bubba, a 93 pound sub-adult Loggerhead, was rescued March 27th by good samaritans Buddy & Mary Ellen Norris near No Name Key. (Bubba is pictured above with his rescuers). Bubba was found struggling to dive and brought in shore where Turtle Hospital staff brought Bubba back to Marathon via Turtle Hospital ambulance! Preliminary x-rays ruled out impaction and blood work was sent to a lab. As it turns out, Bubba has a minor infection. Since he has begun antibiotic treatments, Bubba gives staff a hard time by opening his mouth and trying to bite when given an injection! In only one week Bubba appears less bouyant and more active. Staff expects a full recovery!
UPDATE April 11th:
Bubba is no longer floating! He is able to remain at the bottom of his treatment tank. This means that his infection is already clearing and Bubba is well on his way to recovery!
Turtle Hospital staff would like to thank Buddy and Mary Ellen for their generous donation. This donation will be used to help provide the food and antibiotics Bubba needs!
UPDATE May 1st:
Bubba was released from the beach at Coco Plum in Marathon!
Kentucky, a small sub adult Loggerhead, was rescued March 25th from the beach at Sunshine Key. This thin sea turtle had suffered a shark bite on the left side of her body. Kentucky was already suffering from an infection which left her floating helplessly at the surface. While struggling to dive she may have attracted the large predator while splashing around on the surface. Luckily Kentucky was able to escape with only a minor injury. Currently she is being treated for an infection and the shark bite is tended to daily.
UPDATE May 12th:
Dr. Mader (Marathon Veterinary Hospital) visited Kentucky to examine her shark bite. The injury has almost entirely healed and Kentucky has been given the ok for release!
UPDATE June 25th:
Kentucky is released with administrator Ryan Butts, several marine journalists and representatives from Yamaha. http://www.fla-keys.com/news/news.cfm?sid=7811
Pal, a 195 pound adult male Loggerhead, was rescued March 24th off of Sunshine Key. At first glance, Pal appears to be a very large healthy sea turtle. Once given an x-ray (see photo above) it was apparent that he was bloated internally with a minor impaction. The trapped gas in the intestines was causing this big boy to float at the surface! Once at The Turtle Hospital, Pal was fed squid soaked in vegetable oil which acts as a laxative and helps him safely and naturally pass any undigested food. After a few short days in treatment Pal began passing what appears to be seagrass and other large pieces of fecal matter. Once staff is certain the impaction has passed, Pal will be given an x-ray to confirm that his stomach and intestines are clear before release. Staff is hopeful that Pal’s stay at the hospital will be short.
UPDATE April 23rd:
Pal was released yesterday in celebration of Earthday! Friends of The Turtle Hospital and the media were present to wish Pal farewell. For more on his story click the following link to CBS Channel 4 news: http://cbs4.com/local/sea.turtle.turtles.2.1650099.html?detectflash=false
Toni, a sub-adult Loggerhead, was admitted March 3rd 2010. She was found floating near Key Colony Beach. Toni was thin and weak but responded immediately to offered squid. However staff quickly realized she was unable to feed herself. Toni is most likely suffering from a condition known as “lock jaw.” Unfortunately there are few documented cases of lock jaw and little is known about it. The common theory is that the afflicted sea turtle may have injested or come in contact with a toxin. Since the toxin is unknown the only available treatment is physical therapy for the frozen jaw muscles. Everyday staff uses two ropes to pry Toni’s upper and lower jaw open and closed. This is repeated several times throughout the day and helps to excercise the stiff muscles. With therapy Toni should be able to open her mouth again and eventually eat on her own!
Update May 14th:
Toni has begun eating small squid on her own! Throughout the past week Toni has improved so much that she can eat nearly 30 squid a day! Her physical therapy for lock jaw continues. It will take more time for Toni to be able to completely open her mouth and eat like a Loggerhead sea turtle should.