The Turtle Hospital. Rescue, Rehab, Release.

Permanent Residents

Sea turtles that are deemed non-releasable by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are called “permanent residents.” Four of our permanent residents are going to live out the rest of their lives here at The Turtle Hospital .

The following 4 sea turtles will stay at The Turtle Hospital for the remainder of their lives and can be ‘adopted’, click here to learn about our adoption program.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERABender: adult female Kemp’s Ridley. Boat hit and lobster trap entanglement resulting in loss of left front flipper.  Weights help to swim better. Stranded on 2/17/05.

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAApril: 200-lb adult male Green. Fibropapilloma took over right eye which had to be removed.  Left eye has shadow vision. (Blind sea turtles cannot survive in the wild as they rely heavily on sight.) Stranded on 4/1/1990.

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAMontel: Green. The sea turtle “poster child.” Monofilament entanglement resulting in amputation of right front flipper. Shark attack bit off half of left front flipper leaving only half                                                                                                                                     a front flipper remaining.                                                                                                                                   Fibropapilloma and boat                                                                                                                                   hit resulting in loss of                                                                                                                                       one eye and indented                                                                                                                                       shell. Stranded on                                                                                                                                             4/7/2001.

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The rest of our permanent residents are up for adoption to zoos/aquariums around the world:

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERASekoi: 30-lb Green. Fibropapilloma caused loss of one eye and boat hit resulted in permanent floating.  Weights on the rear of the shell helps to offset the buoyancy. Stranded 2/21/2007.

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In water 3.31.13Kent: Green. Fibropapilloma tumors removed, boat strike causes floating. Weight system offsets buoyancy. Stranded 9/19/2007.

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Coastie 02.13.12Coastie: Green. Boat strike causes floating. Small circular weight on rear of shell offsets buoyancy. Stranded 11/2/1999.

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George: Female juvenile Green. Treated for FP tumors and boat hit which causes George to permanently float. Attached weight offsets buoyancy. Stranded 2/17/11 in New Smyrna Beach, FL.

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Chance: 70 lb. Green. Boat hit caused deformation of shell and a small fracture. Stranded on 9/29/13 offshore of Key Largo, FL. Weights are attached to shell to offset buoyancy and allow Chance to dive below the surface.

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photo2Corrie:  Juvenile Green.  Originally found in Palm Beach County, FL in September 2013.  Treated at Loggerhead Marinelife Center before transfer to The Turtle Hospital on 8/14/14.  “Bubble Butt Syndrome” and is non-releasable, wears weights to offset buoyancy.  Giant ball of fire!

Want a sea turtle in your hometown zoo/aquarium? Send a letter to the organization referencing The Turtle Hospital’s permanent residents and emphasizing how acquiring a sea turtle can further the zoological mission of education and conservation.  If there is a public desire for one of these amazing endangered animals, then your zoo will do its best to please you!  We even send them internationally, like Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park in the United Kingdom!  Check out Key West Aquarium or Theater of the Sea  for some of our past permanent residents as well.