Visit The Turtle Hospital in Marathon
Located in Marathon, Florida at MM 48.5, The Turtle Hospital is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, education and environmental legislation of sea turtles. Established in 1986, The Turtle Hospital is the only state-certified veterinary hospital in the world for sea turtles.
Guided Educational Experiences are held throughout the day, 7 days a week (reservations for these tours are recommended) educating the public on sea turtles and consist of an informative presentation, tour of the hospital including a visit to the receiving and x-ray room, operating room and meeting the turtles who are housed in the hospital's tanks and salt water pool.
Local volunteers assist with feeding and caring for the turtles and many veterinarians, both local and non-local, also contribute their time and expertise to the hospital. A good portion of the state-of-the-art equipment needed for surgeries has been donated by local hospitals and doctors as well as by environmentally friendly organizations and individuals.
The Hidden Harbor Motel solely funded the Hospital until 2005 when Hurricane Wilma caused the motel to close. Grant and foundation money, personal donations, Guided Educational Experiences and gift shop sales now fund the hospital.
Guided Tours are held daily at The Turtle Hospital
There are seven species of sea turtles found worldwide and five of these turtles are found in the Florida Keys. Four of these are endangered - the Green sea turtle, Hawksbill, Leatherback and Kemps Ridley. The Loggerhead is the fifth species and is considered threatened.
A variety of illnesses are treated at the hospital including amputations of flippers caused by entanglements from line and garbage, shell damage from boat collisions, and ingestion of foreign objects such as plastic bags, food wrappers and fishing line.
The most common surgery done at the hospital is the removal of debilitating viral tumors called Fibropapilloma. This disease affects more than half of the population of young Green sea turtles located in the Florida Keys and is found in Green sea turtle populations worldwide. The Turtle Hospital, along with the University of Florida and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, are researching the causes of Fibropapilloma.
Every summer, The Turtle Hospital receives more than 100 injured and / or disoriented hatchling sea turtles. The hospital also receives an average of 70 injured sea turtles every year. Each sea turtle brought to the hospital is rehabilitated and released back into the wild as soon as possible. So far, the hospital has rehabilitated and released more than 1,000 sea turtles.
Turtle being rehabilitated at the Turtle Hospital
Fascinating facts on sea turtles:
- Sea turtles have inhabited the oceans for over 200 million years
- Sea turtles front flippers are so powerful they can sail through the ocean at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour
- When swimming and feeding sea turtles breath air every 5 to 10 minutes
- When resting sea turtles can hold their breath for up to 3 – 5 hours
- Sea turtles are believed to live for more than 75 years
- Five out of the seven species of sea turtles can be found in the Florida Keys
- Loggerhead
- Green sea turtle
- Hawksbill
- Leatherback
- Kemps Ridley
- All seven species are on the endangered species list and are listed as protected
Threats to sea turtles include:
- Entanglement in monofilament (fishing line), ropes and nets
- Boat collisions
- Oil spills and tar
- Intestinal impaction
- Coastal development
- Fibropapilloma tumors
What we can do to help lessen the threats to these magnificent animals include:
What We Can Do to Help Protect Sea Turtles
- Throwing all trash into receptacles – whether you're on land or on the ocean. Even trash thrown on the ground can make its way into the water. And, things such as plastic bags floating in the ocean look like a jellyfish to these creatures.
- Keep an eye out for turtles when boating, and enjoy watching them from afar.
- During nesting season, keep all lights facing the beach off so as not confuse them, keep dogs off areas where they nest, do not light fires on the beach and please do not disturb a female who is nesting.
- Help protect sea turtles by donating to an organization that rescues, rehabilitates and release them.
If you find a sick or injured sea turtle, please call the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC. Do not try to touch the turtle yourself as since they are a protected species, you must have a permit issued by the State of Florida to work with them.
For a wonderful and educational experience of these amazing creatures stop in and visit The Turtle Hospital.
For more information on The Turtle Hospital, go to www.turtlehospital.org where you will find such things as Adopting a Turtle, Reporting an injured turtle, the hospitals webcam and monthly newsletter.