Dr. Lindsey Waxman, a staff veterinarian at the Florida Aquarium, saw a good sign when one of her sea turtle patients got feisty. She said that if a wild animal tries to fight you, it means it has the energy to survive. This is what they want to see.
The patient was Dark-Blue Yellow, a green sea turtle. He arrived at the Florida Aquarium in late March. He had severe injuries, including a deep cut on his underbelly. This cut went through his plastron, which is the bottom part of a sea turtle's shell. Staff believed the wound was likely from a boat strike.
Waxman explained that few things other than human interaction could cause such deep wounds through a sea turtle's bone. Dark-Blue Yellow was one of 21 rescues this season, but his injuries were the most severe the Florida Aquarium had ever seen. He needed constant care.
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Start Your News DetoxThe Impact of Boat Strikes
Boat strikes are a common threat to marine life, especially in summer. In early June, four friends boating near Jupiter, Florida, found a large sea turtle struggling. They named her Zoey. She weighed over 300 pounds. The men used a rope-pulley system to guide her to the marina's pier.
Once out of the water, they saw deep wounds on her shell, consistent with a boat strike. Experts from the Loggerhead Marinelife Center confirmed this. Despite their efforts, Zoey died a few hours later. However, the four rescuers said they would help again. One rescuer, Will Savery, noted that sea turtles are a vital part of their waters. He believes people must do what they can to save them when accidents happen.
A Promising Recovery
Fortunately, Dark-Blue Yellow's story has a different outcome. The Florida Aquarium staff reported that he has made a good recovery. He is expected to return to the ocean in less than two months.
Waxman emphasized that sea turtles still need help. While they are no longer critically endangered, they face many threats. She stated that these turtles would not recover without human intervention.
