A threatened sea turtle is being treated for a life-threatening gash to its shell after apparently being struck by a boat in South Florida, officials said Tuesday.
A Miami homeowner spotted the lethargic, injured loggerhead turtle Monday in a canal that leads into Biscayne Bay, said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Jorge Pino.
The 250-pound turtle had a severe gash running the length of its shell, and it was missing its right front flipper, Pino said.
Wildlife officers loaded the turtle onto their boat, covered it with a damp towel from the homeowner and took it to the Miami Seaquarium for treatment.
The turtle is fairly active but also is showing signs of anemia, which may indicate that it is suffering from parasites that may have made the turtle listless and vulnerable to a boat strike, Seaquarium spokeswoman Cristina Rodriguez said.
Veterinarians will treat the turtle for parasites and disinfect the wound to its shell before determining how to proceed with the turtle's rehabilitation. The gash through its shell is life-threatening, but it didn't damage the spine so the turtle's mobility is not affected, Rodriguez said.
The gash could take months or years to heal completely, Rodriguez said. One possible treatment involves temporarily placing metal plates across the shell to close the gap.
The missing flipper appears to be an old injury that doesn't threaten the turtle's survival, Rodriguez said.
Loggerhead sea turtles protected by state and federal laws.
Pino says boat strikes are common for turtles and manatees. He warns boaters to watch out for marine life, particularly at this time of year when manatees are migrating south to warmer waters.
Source: Miami Herald
