- May 6, 2024
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The Marine Science Center, of Ponce Inlet, returned three rehabilitated sea turtles to the ocean Friday, Sept. 5, at Washington Oaks State Park.
Two of the turtles, Olaf, a 75-pound loggerhead, and David, a 12-pound green sea turtle, have been in rehabilitation at the center’s turtle hospital since mid-April. When they were found, the turtles were covered in algae and barnacles and severely underweight, dehydrated and hypoglycemic.
Squirtle, a 10-pound green sea turtle, was brought to the center July 20 after being hooked by a fisherman. Radiographs revealed three hooks embedded in the turtle’s mouth and esophagus.
“Squirtle was a turtle that was found just here near Marineland and the turtle was brought to one of the beach safety officers by the fisherman that caught the turtle,” said Melissa Ranly, curator of Sea Turtle rehabilitation at Marine Science Center. “To me, that’s a really good sign that some of the conservation messages are getting out there to not just cut the line and let the animal go.”
Ranly said that typically, that is what happens.
“This turtle, even if (the fisherman) had pulled that hook out of his mouth, there were two more in his esophagus that he didn’t know about and that could have caused a long term problem.”
Squirtle made a full recovery since having the hooks surgically removed and undergoing treatment with antibiotics, vitamins and fluid therapy.
The Marine Science Center has treated 62 sea turtles and more than 55 other reptiles this year.
In addition to treating the turtles, Ranly said a big focus of the center and the sea turtle hospitals is preaching conservation and education as well as responsible fishing and beach going. The hope is that with awareness, there will be less turtles that need to be treated.
