This week has welcomed two new patients making our grand turtle total at 45 patients here at the Turtle Hospital.  On Monday, Mocho, a post hatchling Hawksbill was rescued in Stock Island.  Mocho is missing his left front flipper already even though he is only a few months old.  Most likely a bigger fish or bird got a quick bite of him as he was making his way out to the ocean currents.  Mocho, will only be with us for a few months until sea turtle nesting season gets into full swing over the summer and weather conditions improve.  Until then, Mocho, is keeping Ace, our other post hatchling Hawksbill, company.

Mocho during his check in

Our second patient was found late Tuesday night after she had been washed up on shore in Boca Chica.  India and Tony were out walking the beach during some blustery conditions and noticed a juvenile green sea turtle fighting to hold on to life.  They called the Turtle Hospital and even offered to meet our ambulance halfway in Big Pine!  The little green, later named India, was suffering from severe emaciation and of course those dreadful FP tumors.  India is already showing us she has the will to survive.  She is enjoying a low water level in one our rehab tanks and has even ate a few pieces of squid on her own already.  A big thank you goes out to Mocho’s and India’s rescuers!!!!  As always stay posted for updates on both of these turtles!

India upon check in