It was a very happy day last Sunday, as we were able to release four juvenile Green turtles back to the ocean! All four were taken by boat into the Gulf Of Mexico, just outside of the Everglades National Park for release. The water was very clear and we could see down to thick and healthy sea grass beds. Timmy and Mae were both treated for Fibropapilloma, a rehabilitation process that took just over a year! Corona needed some help to be able to pass pieces of plastic that were blocking her digestive tract. Lastly was Stanley who was only with us for a few weeks. He was attacked by a predator and was treated with antibiotics and a healthy diet.

Dr. Jolt keeping an eye on Timmy on the boat ride out

Turtle Hospital founder Richie Moretti took out a group of staff members out to release the turtles. The group included Dr. Mader and Dr. Diathelm of Marathon Veterinary Hospital who donated their time and expertise to get these turtles healthy. A visiting veterinarian, Dr. Jolt, from Guadeloupe also joined in. Dr. Jolt visited The Turtle Hospital for a week in order to shadow the staff to better care for turtles at his hospital across the sea. Close friends of Dr. Mader’s also joined, Alex and Sasha. Alex donated an anesthesia machine several years ago and also helped with the intake care of Mae.

Timmy before and after:

Mae before and after (was out of water for 2 weeks upon arrival, and also had a catheter inserted into the bone marrow to deliver fluids and medication):

Dr. Doug, Dr. Gerry, Sasha, and Alex with Mae