Sea Turtle Survives Near Fatal Shark Attack and Becomes First Patient at Miami Hospital

On May 22nd, Zoo Miami received an urgent call from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) that a large female loggerhead turtle had been rescued from the Port St. Lucie Power Plant with a severe wound to its left front flipper, leaving only exposed bone and torn flesh. They explained that the turtle had been the victim of a shark attack.

Source: WSVN-TV/Youtube

Luckily, Zoo Miami’s newly constructed Sea Turtle Hospital had recently passed inspection, so it was decided that the best option was to transfer the injured turtle to the zoo for treatment and rehabilitation. “The massive reptile weighed 388 pounds and was missing most of her left front flipper except for the exposed humerus bone,” said Zoo Miami. After a full health examination, it was discovered that she was also laden with eggs!

After a couple of days had passed, she had deposited over 100 eggs which were transported by the Miami-Dade Parks Sea Turtle Conservation Program staff with the approval of FWC and inserted into a man-made nest for incubation, added Zoo Miami.

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After Baymax, the newly named turtle finished up with the exams, which included blood collection, X-Rays, and an ultrasound exam, the turtle was prepared for surgery to “remove the exposed damaged bone and treat the amputated limb in a way that would help prevent infection and provide the approximately 50-year-old reptile with a more stable path towards healing,” said zoo Miami. The procedure required many hours and was led by Zoo Miami Associate Veterinarian Dr. Marisa Bezjian and assisted by Zoo Miami Chief Veterinarian Dr. Gwen Myers, but ultimately it was a success!

Thanks to her care at Zoo Miami, Baymax received a second chance at life and will hopefully make a full recovery. Zoo Miami is hopeful that she will soon be strong enough to be released back into the wild!

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