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Saturday, April 23, 2011

Taking Care of Turtles

On my walk this morning, I ran into a turtle. He was on the sidewalk near our lake. He let me walk right up to him and give him a good sniff to check him out - of course, he ducked right into his shell when I did this. Unfortunately, I was walking with Daddy-dog, who never brings his cell phone (with camera) or the camera when we are out for our 'morning constitutional' so I don't have a photo. *sighs*

When I got back from my walk, we read the newspaper and guess what!?! There was a story today about turtles! Specifically, the story was about sea turtles, not the type of turtle I saw by my lake.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle courtesy of Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
It seems two green sea turtles underwent laser surgery yesterday at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center to remove bulbous tumors on their eyes and flippers. The tumors are called fibropapilloma and they are directly related to agricultural runoff pollution in South Florida's waterways. These tumors grow on the fleshy parts of the sea turtles, a lot of times on their eyes, which obstructs their vision and movements.

Did you know that all the species of sea turtles in the world are either threatened or endangered? Here in Florida, we have some of the most important nesting beaches for loggerhead sea turtles, green sea turtles and leatherback sea turtles and sometimes even for Kemp's Ridley turtles and hawksbill turtles. Pretty cool, huh?!

The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, where the surgeries took place yesterday, has an extensive sea turtle rehabilitation center where they rescue and treat sick and injured turtles before releasing them back into the wild. They were able to do the surgeries because the National Save the Sea Turtle Foundation donated the necessary high-powered laser for the surgery. *zoomies in a circle*

Anyway, we found the story and an accompanying video on The South Florida Sun Sentinel website. Here's the video...check out the cute sea turtle! (You will be able to see the tumors covering his eyes...so sad.)<< Sorry...the video is now unavailable! Grrrrr... Oh, and if you are celebrating Easter tomorrow....Happy Easter!

Oz

10 comments:

  1. It is very thoughtful of you to talk about turtles. Some of us don't really get to see any, except at zoos maybe. I'm glad the turtles can get treatment for their tumours.

    I also wanted to wish you a happy Easter!

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  2. Hmm, I didn't even think that some have never seen turtles but in zoos. That must be such a bummer for the turtles, being in a zoo pool instead of the ocean.

    The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center here does a great job rehabilitating them and people can even go to the center and see the recovering turtles. They do a lot of educating about the turtles there.

    Happy Easter!
    Oz

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  3. Turtles need love too, especially sea turtles!

    Nubbin wiggles
    Oskar

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  4. Thanks for telling us all about the turtles, we had never heard of them, what a great nature centre you have there too. Nice to meet you, look forward to reading more about your 'good life', Dexter & Louis x

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  5. Hello from the blog hop. It's sad about the turtles but glad there is someone looking out for them. As a water quality specialist, I know all too well the damage and pollution of our water resources that happens at the hands of humans. Part of my job is raising awareness about protecting our waters and sea life here in the Puget Sound.

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  6. Lily ate a little turtle once when she was a puppy! She is sorry now. She saw it walking and she thought it was a toy! :(

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  7. Long, long ago, the hu-dad came home to see Nikita (who is now at the Bridge) throwing a rock in the air and catching it. The hu-dad investigated because he did not want Nikita breaking a tooth by catching this big rock. Only it turned out to be a very dizzy turtle who was most happy to be rescued and escorted out of the dog yard.

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  8. Thank you for highlighting our family...tho from different species.

    Your country is really nice for doing all the help for the sea turtles.

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  9. Our uncle do liv on a island called Bequia in da carribean and they do haz a turtle sanctuary there. We do send typist there sumtimes to say ello for those turtles. They haz a little website http://turtles.bequia.net/

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  10. I am sad to hear about the turtles being endangered. Owner loves turtles & when she went around the world (a long time before I was born) she used to love watching turtles swimming happily in the sea.

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Cairn cuddles,
Oz the Terrier