2.10.2023
The sunrise this morning was very pretty. We've enjoyed the group of pelicans that hang out near the campground.
The weather was a bit rainy today so, we decided to go to the Sea Turtle Hospital. Turns out it is mostly outside. Even with that we enjoyed our tour even though we got a bit soggy. We saw an iguana who was just visiting the hospital. I learned that iguanas are not native to the Keys.
There are three main reasons turtles end up here. One of them is pollution causes tumors which can impede their movement or sight. Left unchecked the tumors will eventually begin to grow inside. This laser is how the hospital removes them. As long as the tumor is fully removed it won't return.
The second reason is an injury that causes a deformation or amputation. These two turtles both fall into this category. One was attacked by a shark and lost a limb. The other was hit by a boat which damaged its shell.
The third is when the turtle ingests so much trash that it stops their digestive system. This and the following surgery disrupts the balance of air in the turtle and creates Bubble Butt Syndrome. With this the turtle can no longer dive for food thus making it impossible for the turtle to live in the wild.
Notice the circular bumps on the turtle shells. These are lead weights that have grown into the shells. This is how the hospital combats Bubble Butt Syndrome so that the turtles can dive.
The turtles here come in all shapes and sizes. It was fun to see the little tiny ones. Overall it was a great way to spend a couple of hours.
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