Turtle Heart Beat

Listening to the heart beat of one of the turtles prepped for surgery. They are looking at the clock on the wall to check the beats per minute.

35 SURGERIES TO BE PERFORMED ON TURTLES AFFLICTED WITH FIBROPAPILLOMA

On Tuesday, January 26, 2010, Gumbo Limbo is playing host to an unprecedented collaborative effort to treat 35 green sea turtles affected by fibropapilloma.

Fibropapilloma is a disease which manifests in fleshy tumors on the turtles skin. Researchers suspect that the disease is caused by a virus and seems to be highly contagious among sea turtles. The disease cannot cross to humans.

Although there is no direct evidence to undoubtedly conclude, there is strong circumstantial evidence that suggests that pollution, particularly from agricultural run-off, is a major factor in causing the disease. Currently, the only treatment available is to surgically remove the tumors.

These 35 turtles at Gumbo Limbo are the remainder of more than 5000 cold-stunned turtles that were rescued during the two weeks of abnormally cold temperatures in Florida. In order to treat the turtles so that they may be released back to the wild, Gumbo Limbo is partnering with a cross-disciplinary team from Disney, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Pittsburgh Zoo, PPG Aquarium and Shedd Aquarium, among others. We have 8-10 surgeons, 7 techs, a laser surgery manufacturer and others involved. Disney is sending a mobile surgical unit too.

The team will operate on the turtles to remove the tumors. The turtles will then spend a short recovery time in rehabilitation at Gumbo Limbo and then be released to the ocean.

As a result of the cold stunning event the rehabilitation center is rapidly going through medical supplies. Please call 561-391-8110 to help these turtles make a successful recovery.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• turtle heart beat
• Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
• Boca Raton
• Florida