"Ryan Butts, administrator of the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital, examines the throat of a sick loggerhead sea turtle at the hospital in Marathon, Florida, March 30, 2009. Ironically, the ill turtle swam to the hospital's boat basin on its own and was rescued by staff. Butts said that it was the first time in the 25-year history of the hospital that a turtle has "tracked us down and showed up at our doorstep waiting to be admitted."
A loggerhead sea turtle nearly swam to the door step of the Florida Keys Turtle Hospital, the only licensed veterinary facility in the world that solely treats sea turtles. The 73-pound reptile was suffering from a bacterial infection and somehow knew exactly where to go for help -- no Yellow Pages needed.
Staff members at the hospital actually waited several hours before treating the turtle because they thought it may have just been lost when it showed up at the dock of the treatment center. But the turtle stuck around, probably unaware of the Turtle Hospital's "no walk-ins" policy. Eventually, he was treated with meds and now has a new home in a blue tank until he's all better.
No doubt, the hospital will get plenty of referrals from their new patient when he is back with his friends -- Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello and Raphael.
1 comment:
This is a great story! My husband & I have thought of doing one of those volunteer vacations and one of them was to help turtles. Maybe next year!
Post a Comment