Community Corner

Aquarium Turtle Release Leads to Another Rescue

Clearwater Marine Aquarium officials went to release one juvenile Green Sea Turtle in St. Augustine and ended up returning with another ailing terrapin.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium officials went to release one juvenile green sea turtle in St. Augustine and ended up returning with another ailing terrapin.

Labatt, a juvenile green sea turtle, was ready for release after more than a year of recovery at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

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She was struck by a boat that left blue paint on her severely damaged carapace (top part of the shell) and cracked plastron (bottom part), aquarium officials said.

An employee of St. Augustine Ecotours found Labatt on Feb. 14, 2012. She was taken to the Marine Science Center in Volusia County. 

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That is where a small number of fibropapilloma tumors were discovered. Only a few places in Florida treat the condition. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is one of them.

Dr. Michael Walsh, a veterinarian at the aquarium, discovered that 50 percent of Labatt’s carapace was crushed. Walsh treated the wounds with Ilex cream and honey, and sealed them with Tegaderm, a clear, waterproof bandage, according to aquarium officials. During this time, Labatt also received laser surgery and had all of her fibropapilloma tumors successfully removed.

During the next year, Labatt received almost 30 wound care treatments and bandage changes, went through successful tumor removal surgery, had four CT Scans, and gained more than 15 pounds.

After a final exam, Labatt was cleared for release March 25.

Labatt was released April 7 at Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine.

After the release, aquarium officials met Vilmares, another juvenile green sea turtle from the Marine Science Center in need of fibropapilloma virus treatment.

Aquarium officials still are unsure of its sex. Vilmares had no other injuries and would be fully examined this week.

Related coverage:

  • Sick Sea Turtle Rescued Off Honeymoon Island
  • Photo Gallery: Two Rescued Sea Turtle Set Free at Honeymoon Island
  • Sea Turtle Drawn Back to Water
  • Debby Doesn’t Curtail Record Setting Turtle Nesting Season


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