Turtle Hospital By: Alexandra Gavioli
For my birthday present this year I am super thankful that my parents are taking me on a trip to Florida. Although, specifically, we are going to a turtle hospital while we are there! (I know basic) I am so excited about it because I have been wanting to go to a marine life sanctuary since I was little. My dream job from a young age was to be a marine biologist. Of course, this has changed over time and now I want to be a vet, but I still have a special place in my heart for sea animals. While I am at the sanctuary I am going to learn about the different species of turtles that are there and the reasons why they have to live permanently in the sanctuary. One of the main reasons many of the turtles have been rescued is due to bubble butt syndrome. It sounds made up, but its what happens when a turtle is hit by a boat driving through the ocean. This results in the turtle being unable to dive, so it can not survive in the wild. The Turtle Hospital I'm going to is the one who tokened the disease named after one of their very own turtles, Bubble Butt. I cant wait to see the turtles and learn more about them, but to be honest, I'm most excited about getting to adopt one. By adopting a turtle at the Turtle Hospital, you donate money monthly that goes towards the turtle, of your choices, care. Ultimately I am having trouble deciding, so I am going to put a list of the turtles at the hospital below along with their story.
April
Hi friends, I am a green sea turtle named April. I was rescued April 1st, 1991 which is how I received my name. I’m actually a boy but they didn’t know that when I was named. I had to be rescued because I was covered in tumors caused by a virus called fibropapilloma. Doctors at The Turtle Hospital removed all my tumors but the ones that had grown on my eyes were so bad that I had to have my right eye removed. I still have my left eye but the tumors damaged it very badly and I do not see very well out of that eye. Being almost completely blind means I would not be able to survive in the wild so now I call The Turtle Hospital home. I have learned how to navigate safely around my large saltwater pool and taught my caretakers a few tricks that help me get plenty of food. When you visit me you might even get a chance to see my unique “April dance”, when I spin in circles and bob my head up and down.
- I love the name April and i also like to dance so I definitely like her
Bender
Nice to meet you, my name is Bender. I am one of the rarest sea turtles on Earth since I am a Kemp’s Ridley. I had to be rescued in 2005 because I had become entangled and hit by a boat. I lost my front left flipper because of the entanglement and the boat strike caused me to have bubble butt syndrome. I am no longer able to survive in the wild so I am a permanent member of The Turtle Hospital family. I tend to be quite shy and like to hide at the bottom of my pool unless it’s time for my favorite snack, squid stuffed with shrimp! I could possibly be one of the oldest sea turtles at the hospital and can easily be identified by my light coloration which is how I earned my nickname “ghost turtle”. Have your camera ready if you are visiting my pool so if I do make an appearance at the surface you can get a picture before I disappear like a ghost.
- This one is my dads favorite
- I like him because he's different from the other turtles due to his colorationBubble Butt
Hello everyone, my name is Bubble Butt. I have lived at The Turtle Hospital since 1989, longer than any of the other turtles. I’m a green sea turtle and the very first sea turtle ever rescued with a condition called “bubble butt syndrome”, that’s why they named it after me. This condition developed from a boat hitting me and causes me to be unable to dive underwater making it impossible for me to survive in the wild. Here at the hospital I wear a weight on my shell that allows me to go to the bottom of the pool where I enjoy taking naps. I also enjoy welcoming all the guests to The Turtle Hospital, eating as much food as possible and being king of the pool. I am very popular with the kiddos and quite possibly the most famous sea turtle in The Florida Keys! It’s easy to spot me in the pool, my shell is wider in the front narrow in the back and I have a long thick tail because I’m a boy.
- Obviously, I like him because of his name, also he was the first one to coin the condition, so that's cool
Montel
Hey there folks, I’m Montel, an adult male green sea turtle. Boy do I have a story for you! I had to be rescued in 2001 because I got entangled in fishing line but while I was stuck entangled a boat hit me and a shark attacked me. Now I only have one short little front flipper but on top of all of that I had fibropapilloma tumors and the doctors here had to remove my right eye. It would be really hard for me to survive in the wild so now I live at the hospital safe from sharks, boats & other things that could hurt me. Since I had so much drama before I was rescued I’m named after “The Montel Williams Show”. I don’t let my past bother me though, I love to cruise around my pool looking for anything tasty to eat and I’m pretty laid back and easy going. But every once in a while I get feeling mischievous and sneak up on the other turtles and give them a little love bite.
- I like Montel because he's dramatic
Rebel
Greeting folks, I’m a loggerhead sea turtle named Rebel. I have lived at The Turtle Hospital since 1991. A boat strike caused me to develop “bubble butt syndrome” and left me paralyzed in my hind flippers. In this condition I cannot survive in the wild so I am a permanent member of The Turtle Hospital family. I’m an adult male and one of the largest turtles at the hospital. Sometimes I like to be big and tough and boss the other turtles but other times I’m just a big old’ sweetheart and let my friend Bender hide underneath me when we are resting at the bottom of the pool. I love to eat squid but I also like to steal romaine lettuce leaves from the green sea turtles just to remind them that I am the boss. I’m easy to spot with my large head, dark shell and long tail but if you don’t see me swimming around, I have most likely settled into one of my favorite spots on the bottom of the pool for a nap which I enjoy quite often.
- I think it's so cute the other sea turtle hides under him
All of the turtles are adorable and I would love to adopt them all, but I can only pick one. At this point, I think I am leaning towards Bender. Let me know which one you like the best!
April
Hi friends, I am a green sea turtle named April. I was rescued April 1st, 1991 which is how I received my name. I’m actually a boy but they didn’t know that when I was named. I had to be rescued because I was covered in tumors caused by a virus called fibropapilloma. Doctors at The Turtle Hospital removed all my tumors but the ones that had grown on my eyes were so bad that I had to have my right eye removed. I still have my left eye but the tumors damaged it very badly and I do not see very well out of that eye. Being almost completely blind means I would not be able to survive in the wild so now I call The Turtle Hospital home. I have learned how to navigate safely around my large saltwater pool and taught my caretakers a few tricks that help me get plenty of food. When you visit me you might even get a chance to see my unique “April dance”, when I spin in circles and bob my head up and down.
- I love the name April and i also like to dance so I definitely like her
Bender
Nice to meet you, my name is Bender. I am one of the rarest sea turtles on Earth since I am a Kemp’s Ridley. I had to be rescued in 2005 because I had become entangled and hit by a boat. I lost my front left flipper because of the entanglement and the boat strike caused me to have bubble butt syndrome. I am no longer able to survive in the wild so I am a permanent member of The Turtle Hospital family. I tend to be quite shy and like to hide at the bottom of my pool unless it’s time for my favorite snack, squid stuffed with shrimp! I could possibly be one of the oldest sea turtles at the hospital and can easily be identified by my light coloration which is how I earned my nickname “ghost turtle”. Have your camera ready if you are visiting my pool so if I do make an appearance at the surface you can get a picture before I disappear like a ghost.
- This one is my dads favorite
- I like him because he's different from the other turtles due to his colorationBubble Butt
Hello everyone, my name is Bubble Butt. I have lived at The Turtle Hospital since 1989, longer than any of the other turtles. I’m a green sea turtle and the very first sea turtle ever rescued with a condition called “bubble butt syndrome”, that’s why they named it after me. This condition developed from a boat hitting me and causes me to be unable to dive underwater making it impossible for me to survive in the wild. Here at the hospital I wear a weight on my shell that allows me to go to the bottom of the pool where I enjoy taking naps. I also enjoy welcoming all the guests to The Turtle Hospital, eating as much food as possible and being king of the pool. I am very popular with the kiddos and quite possibly the most famous sea turtle in The Florida Keys! It’s easy to spot me in the pool, my shell is wider in the front narrow in the back and I have a long thick tail because I’m a boy.
- Obviously, I like him because of his name, also he was the first one to coin the condition, so that's cool
Montel
Hey there folks, I’m Montel, an adult male green sea turtle. Boy do I have a story for you! I had to be rescued in 2001 because I got entangled in fishing line but while I was stuck entangled a boat hit me and a shark attacked me. Now I only have one short little front flipper but on top of all of that I had fibropapilloma tumors and the doctors here had to remove my right eye. It would be really hard for me to survive in the wild so now I live at the hospital safe from sharks, boats & other things that could hurt me. Since I had so much drama before I was rescued I’m named after “The Montel Williams Show”. I don’t let my past bother me though, I love to cruise around my pool looking for anything tasty to eat and I’m pretty laid back and easy going. But every once in a while I get feeling mischievous and sneak up on the other turtles and give them a little love bite.
- I like Montel because he's dramatic
Rebel
Greeting folks, I’m a loggerhead sea turtle named Rebel. I have lived at The Turtle Hospital since 1991. A boat strike caused me to develop “bubble butt syndrome” and left me paralyzed in my hind flippers. In this condition I cannot survive in the wild so I am a permanent member of The Turtle Hospital family. I’m an adult male and one of the largest turtles at the hospital. Sometimes I like to be big and tough and boss the other turtles but other times I’m just a big old’ sweetheart and let my friend Bender hide underneath me when we are resting at the bottom of the pool. I love to eat squid but I also like to steal romaine lettuce leaves from the green sea turtles just to remind them that I am the boss. I’m easy to spot with my large head, dark shell and long tail but if you don’t see me swimming around, I have most likely settled into one of my favorite spots on the bottom of the pool for a nap which I enjoy quite often.- I think it's so cute the other sea turtle hides under him
All of the turtles are adorable and I would love to adopt them all, but I can only pick one. At this point, I think I am leaning towards Bender. Let me know which one you like the best!
Very cute! I am partial to Bender. That sounds like a really nice birthday gift! When are you going?
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