Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Green Sea Turtle Rehab at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium

While we and our friends, Ed and Michele, were watching the inspirational Winter the dolphin at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium last Sunday, a Green sea turtle was brought in and readied for surgery.  He is a young turtle who had been hit by a boat propeller and suffered a cracked shell. 

We all watched as his beautiful shell was cleaned and glued together.  Lucky for guests, there is a large glass window where surgeries can be viewed. 

This fortunate turtle will recover and be released back into the gulf, but it will take a year before he's ready to return to his home.  In the meantime, he will live at the Aquarium, where he can be monitored in safety. Without the support and loving care of the Marine Aquarium, his would have been a far different story.

Green sea turtles evolved on land and took to the ocean about 150 million years ago.  They are one of the few species so ancient that they watched dinosaurs evolve and become extinct.

What a terrible tragedy, then, that these marvelous and dignified creatures are now on a worldwide endangered list.  We humans must be aware of and sensitive to the animals with whom we share this planet.  If we do not, we will all be diminished.

12 comments:

  1. Nancy,

    Thanks for sharing this! I am elated that poor sea turtle will get well!

    Nicole Weaver
    http://marieandherfriendtheseaturtle.blogspot.com

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  2. How amazing that you were able to see that. And how wonderful that they are able to nurse the poor turtle back to health!

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  3. I'm really enjoying all the nature themes in many of your blog entries, Nancy. Nice write-ups and the photos are beautiful as well.

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  4. I'm glad to see he'll get the attention he needs.

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  5. I remember when we made the trip to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. It was so sad to see the injured animals being cared for and yet it was inspiring to see that they were given a second chance at survival because of human intervention. Your blogs have been good reminders.

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  6. What a cool thing you got to watch. I think of this as like a hospital/rehabilitation center for animals. :)

    Thanks for sharing,
    Margo
    http://margodill.com/blog/

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  7. It is beautiful, and wonderful that its shell can be repaired. You'll have to do a followup post when he's released.

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  8. That'a a great idea, Donna. I'll do it!

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  9. Nancy, it's a very touching event. Thank you for relating it, and reminding us (me) of the dangers sea turtles face. I didn't know their shell could glued back together. I look forward to the update.

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  10. Nathalie, Thank you for your kind words. It's great to meet you!

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  11. It's wonderful that the Clearwater Marine folks took the turtle in and fixed him up. I hope he is doing well. Will they be able to rehibilitate him to the wild? It could be that he will be safer where he is.
    Thanks for sharing this news.

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  12. Yes, Barbara, he will have to stay at the aquarium until his shell is completely knitted together. I learned there it takes so long, because the blood supply is limited in their shells. He will also wear a satellite monitor to check on his safety and where he goes. Amazing.

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