Sea turtle rehab is a funny thing. Sometimes, we get lots of turtles. Then at other times, it slows down. For example: Sunday August 21st we got in 3 turtles; Kala, Spartacus, and Blaine. Then 4 weeks with no rescues. But that changed this week. Tuesday we rescued Monica from Islamorada and Wednesday we rescued Hoaloha from Key West. It’s the rescuers that get to name our turtles. Monica is the rescuer’s daughter’s name.  Hoaloha means “friend” in Hawaiian.

Monica on Intake

Hoaloha on Intake

Both are small green sea turtles with Fibropapilloma tumors and Monica was also entangled in fishing line.  Over the next couple weeks, we will do an endoscope to determine if they have internal tumors. If they are clear, then they can start surgery to remove some of those tumors. Both will need to go to our eye doctor, Dr. Karpinski, to remove the tumors from their eyes.