Bette Zirkelbach, manager at The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida, often sees difficult cases. In April, she shared a video of a green sea turtle named Sir Barksalot. He was recovering from a severe case of debilitated turtle syndrome.
When Sir Barksalot arrived, he was covered in barnacles and had hypothermia. He also suffered from fibropapillomatosis, a disease causing cauliflower-like tumors on sea turtles' skin, eyes, mouth, and organs.
"Sir Barksalot, a juvenile green sea turtle rescued in northern Florida and transferred to The Turtle Hospital a week ago, is stable and ready for his barnacles to be removed," Zirkelbach wrote on social media.
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Start Your News DetoxSir Barksalot was one of five turtles with similar issues, known as the "Crusty Greens." This group also included Shih Tzu, Cavalier, Boykin, and Rottweiler.
Remarkable Recovery for the "Crusty Greens"
"When these juvenile green sea turtles first arrived at our hospital after being rescued in northern Florida, they were battling the effects of chronic cold stunning, fibropapillomatosis, and other serious health challenges," Zirkelbach shared on Facebook on May 30. "Many were weak, lethargic, and covered in barnacles, requiring months of dedicated medical care, rehabilitation, and monitoring."
After two months at The Turtle Hospital, Zirkelbach noted a "remarkable" difference. "These turtles are healthier, stronger, and looking more like the wild sea turtles they were meant to be," she said. "Their tumors have been treated, their strength has returned, and they’re spending their days swimming, diving, and thriving."
The Turtle Hospital regularly takes in new rescues. In December, a small green sea turtle named Nutella was rescued off Key Largo. She had a fishing line in her stomach and tumors on her body and eyes. Last August, Zirkelbach and her team saved Molly, a 170-pound loggerhead sea turtle. Molly had a debilitating tumor that weighed 10.1 pounds.
"Watching these transformations never gets old," Zirkelbach said in her latest post. "Every turtle that regains its health is a testament to the power of rescue, rehabilitation, and the incredible teamwork that makes recovery possible."
"The ‘Crusty Greens’ may have arrived in rough shape," she added, "but they’re leaving us as confident, healthy turtles ready for their next chapter back in the ocean."
