Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Staff at The Turtle Hospital in Marathon usually don't have to venture very far to discharge patients, but this week they went the extra miles, so to speak, to return a hawksbill named Sandy to its home waters in the Virgin Islands.

The sea turtle's troubles began in November while laying eggs on a beach in St. Croix, where it was attacked by a pack of wild dogs.

The turtle, which suffered severe injuries to both its front flippers, was taken to a small animal clinic in St. Croix. But veterinarians there quickly realized they did not have the equipment to treat the animal, said Ryan Butts, director of The Turtle Hospital.

Sandy was first flown to Miami -- courtesy of American Airlines -- and brought to The Turtle Hospital. The Marathon facility, a nonprofit founded in 1986 by motel owner Richie Moretti, treats sea turtles for everything from propeller gashes to papilloma tumors.

Sandy spent the next 11 months recovering from her injuries. A hospital veterinarian amputated the reptile's front right flipper, and removed a section of its front left flipper, Butts said. Staff subsequently administered antibiotics and tube-fed the animal until it was ready to relearn how to swim and catch food.

Sandy was not the only turtle attacked by wild dogs, Butts said. Another turtle did not survive.

"This is quite a problem in less developed countries," he said of feral dogs attacking nesting sea turtles.

But Turtle Hospital staff are confident Sandy can survive -- even nest again -- despite the missing flipper.

Every animal counts, said Moretti.

"When turtles are endangered, as Sandy is, each turtle becomes significant, inasmuch as the eggs she's carrying -- there's thousands of eggs," he said. "And when an animal becomes endangered, we look at this animal as it might make the difference whether future generations get to see hawksbills like Sandy."

Butts, Moretti and Sandy flew back to St. Croix Tuesday, again courtesy of American Airlines. Sandy flew in the cargo hold.

The turtle will be released on the beach where its misadventure began.

tohara@keysnews.com