After she was rescued from a crab trap in Key West, a sea turtle with only one flipper has finally returned to her life in the wild, Naples Daily News reported.
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) and other recreational boaters found the turtle — now named Cooter B — trapped and suffering in the sand and immediately contacted The Turtle Hospital. Their quick action and dedication helped save her life.
The doctors quickly got to work trying to minimize her pain and get her on the road to recovery. Unfortunately, her right front flipper had been badly damaged while she was stuck in the trap, so the only solution was amputation. Following a successful surgery, Cooter B spent a few additional weeks at the hospital recovering.
“Cooter B, a 365 lb/165.5 kg Green sea turtle got her boat strike wound packed, a new pressure wrap, antibiotics, vitamins, IV fluids, nebulized antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal today,“ The Turtle Hospital wrote on Facebook about her rehab regimen.
According to another Facebook post, the Florida Oceanographic Society also donated some tasty seagrass mats to help build her strength back up.
The hospital was clear about its intentions to get Cooter B back into the ocean as soon as she was ready.
“The best place for her is back home in the wild,” The Turtle Hospital Manager Bette Zirkelbach said. “She’s a strong, resilient fighter!”
A miraculous 15 days after her amputation, The Turtle Hospital, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and USCG Sector West teamed up to return the resilient sea turtle to her ocean home.
Lady Freethinker applauds the successful collaboration of The Turtle Hospital, FWC, USCG, and everyone who worked tirelessly to get Cooter B back to life in the wild.
