Community Corner

Sea Turtle No. 11 Set Free at Honeymoon Island

After surviving tumors and boat strikes, Toba, a juvenile endangered green sea turtle, is returned to the wild at Honeymoon Island Wednesday.

After undergoing more than six months of rehabilitation, Toba, a juvenile endangered green sea turtle, was released at Wednesday morning.

Toba is the 11th rescue turtle rehabiltated and released by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium this year.

Toba was found injured by boat strikes and riddled with tumors along Anclote Island in December.

He had four sequential boat strike wounds on his shell. Toba also suffered from fibropapilloma tumors, which grow on a turtle’s skin and can infect small parts of its body. Death can occur if not treated in time.

After more than six months of wound care as a result of the boat strike, Toba healed completely and was ready for release.

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The healing process included flushing the open wounds, cleaning them and packing them with material to help the healing process. The wounds also were covered in watertight bandages.

Toba is the second turtle to be released in the last two weeks.

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Green sea turtles can grow up to 700 pounds and are named not for the color of their shell but its skin, according to National Geographic.

Danielle O'Neil, director of the marine turtles program, said this year's release numbers are behind last year's, when because of the cold more than 80 animals were released before June.


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