Entangled sea turtle returns back to ocean
Fishing line was the least of one sea turtle’s worries. When she was found entangled off the coast of Key Largo in September, she also had a spear in her neck, going through half of her body.
Today, however, the 150-pound green sea turtle, named “Splinter” by her rescuers, was released back into the wild after a successful emergency surgery and recovery at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon.
“Splinter was released off of Higgs Beach in Key West to a crowd of over 100,” Bette Zirkelbach, manager of the hospital, told the Sun Sentinel shortly after the release. “Splinter made a miraculous recovery.”
The turtle was a sub-adult, in her “late-teenager or early-twenties,” according to Zirkelbach, who said this species can live upwards of 100 years.
“The excitement was spreading as we pulled up in the Turtle Hospital ambulance, there was a lot of anticipation. We put it out on social media to encourage people to be there. There was a class of young school students, this was their field trip.” Zirkelbach said.
“Really, the big take with this is education, especially when you see a sea turtle — a federally protected animal — speared or entangled, the biggest thing we can do is educate the general public, let them know that all species of sea turtles around the United States are protected by both federal and state laws and it’s illegal to touch a sea turtle.”
The Turtle Hospital has a 24-hour hotline that people in the Florida Keys can call if they see an injured or tangled sea turtle. For the rest of Florida, including the Keys, people can call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-3922 or from a mobile phone by calling *FWC or #FWC (392). Boaters who do not have cell service or a cell phone with them can call the Coast Guard, who will contact wildlife officials.
On Sept. 7, the hospital posted video of Splinter’s arrival. It shows the turtle’s condition when it was found and then transported to begin treatment and recovery.
“Miraculously, it did not affect any internal organs with a 3-foot spear through half her body,” Zirkelbach told WLRN radio in an interview Thursday.
After the injured turtle was found, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission posted a photo of Splinter being removed from the water and the spear, after it was removed from her body. The agency believes someone intentionally shot the turtle and has been seeking information on who may have done it.
“This act of cruelty is unacceptable and our officers are currently investigating this case,” FWC wrote in a social media posting asking people with information about this incident or to report any other turtle injury to its Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-3922.
Additionally, the Turtle Hospital is offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case. Anyone with information can call 305-743-2552.
“These are amazing animals, sea turtles are so resilient and can teach us a lot,” Zirkelbach said. “They’ve survived on our planet for over 150 million years and I know we work real hard to make sure they don’t go extinct on our watch.”
Boy, 2, drowns in neighbor’s pool
TAMARAC — A father in Tamarac tried but was unable to revive his little boy after the child was pulled from a neighbor’s pool early Friday afternoon, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said.
The 2-year-old was pronounced dead at Coral Springs Medical Center, said Robyn Hankerson, a sheriff ’s spokeswoman.
The child was unconscious when he was found about noon in a neighbor’s pool in the 7800 block of NW 68th Terrace in Tamarac, the Sheriff ’s Office said.
“The boy’s father began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation until BSO deputies arrived,” Hankerson said.
Paramedics from Tamarac Fire Rescue transported the boy to the medical center, where he was pronounced dead.