Bender, a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, was rescued on February 17, 2005 from Upper Matecumbe Key, Florida. The Kemp’s Ridley is the most endangered species of sea turtle and is one of the rarest animals in the world! Bender came into the hospital with a body cavity infection, an injury to the left front flipper, and an old boat hit which was causing this turtle to float. Bender’s flipper was not salvageable and had to be amputated in May of 2005. The blunt force trauma from the old boat hit forced air out of Benders lungs and into his body cavity. This air bubble, trapped underneath his shell, rendered him unable to dive for food so we fit Bender with a lead weight. Bender is a lifer and will remain at the hospital as a permanent resident.
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