Sick and Injured Patients at the Sea Turtle Hospital

Our Turtle Patients at the Hospital

In China, a vast amount of illegal harvesting of sea turtles occurs, Sea Turtles 911 rescues these turtles directly from poachers, markets and restaurants. The rescued turtles are generally malnourished, dehydrated, suffering from sever viral and fungal infections, trauma from rough handling, and a host of other ailments. The sick and injured sea turtles are admitted to our sea turtle hospital for emergency medical care. Rehabilitation for release back into the wild requires fluids, antibiotics, antifungal medications, vitamins, topical ointments, and of course lots of food. You can help provide medical and nutritional care for a rescued sea turtle by adopting your own sea turtle from China!!

	Onyxia Rescued from poachers, Onyxia came to us weak, malnourished, and his plastron was almost completely covered in barnacles and other epibiota. It took a major scrub and turtle bath to get him clean! He also has a lacerated cornea and risks losing eyesight in his left eye. Despite all this, Onyxia keeps a calm and cool attitude and has been slowly gaining his strength back with regular tube feeding, vitamins and fluids. Onyxia has got a long road ahead of him, but his laid-back demeanor will soon float him right into sea-swimming health! Click here for more pictures.
	Neltharion Deathwing Rescued from a restaurant, Nel was brought to us in a plastic bag, extremely emaciated weighing only 1.5 kg, and barely alive. He was immediately started on fluids, vitamins, antibiotics, and received daily tube feeding. But this little guy quickly showed us a big guy attitude, starting to eat on his own within the week of his arrival, and clamoring over the carapaces of roommates four time his size to steal choice fish bits. Nel's progress is an inspiration for other turtles to look up to! Click here for more pictures.
	Nozdormu Rescued from a restaurant, Noz was extremely emaciated and scarcely alive when admitted. He was immediately started on fluids, vitamins, antibiotics, and received daily tube feeding. Noz is doing much better these days and loves to get exercise swimming laps around the top of the rehab enclosure along with his good buddy, Nel. Click here for more pictures.
	Haludron Brightwing Rescued from poachers, Hal came to us malnourished and thickly covered in barnacles. Despite his weakened condition it didn't take long for him to perk up and start enjoying his new lease on life. He's still currently in treatment, getting regular fluids, vitamins, and antibiotics, but loves to try and steal the squid from his other sea turtle roommates. Hal's a gregarious little turtle who's sure to steal the heart of anyone who meets him! Click here for more pictures.
	Aegwynn Very personable and curious, Aegwynn is one of the first turtles to greet the volunteers at the top of the water every morning. She has an endless appetite and is always ready to steal the fish of her roommate, Ossirian, who gives a friendly flipper slap in return! Aegwynn spent a few months as a sea turtle ambassador at one of our partner resorts and loved greeting the guests who came to visit. You're never without a friend when Aegwynn is nearby. Click here for more pictures.
	Bill Rescued from poachers, the turtle we lovingly call "Bill" was brought to the hospital weak and emaciated from malnutrition. Before coming to us Bill was fed a very poor diet primarily of watermelon. After only a week of fluids and antibiotics, Bill was more than happy to make the transition to fish and squid. Now Bill demands more food at every meal and swims energetically around his large enclosure. Because of his unwavering positive attitude he is growing stronger every day! Click here for more pictures.
	Harry Rescued from poachers who thought he was close to death, Harry had been discarded as trash and was found floating amongst old buckets and garbage. His shell was covered in algae and barnacles, his skin was covered in parasites (that gave him a 'hairy' appearance), and Harry didn't even have the energy to raise his head when picked up. But after a good turtle bath and some fluids, Harry's attitude was quickly raised to reveal one spunky and sassy sea turtle! With a few flipper flaps and attempts at nipping hands, he showed us he certainly wasn't ready to give up on life yet. Now, Harry is gaining weight every day and embracing his second chance at life! Click here for more pictures.
	Albert II Rescued from poachers, life has been a challenge for Albert the 2nd, so named for the reigning monarch of Belgium. He came to us severely malnourished and part of his right rear flipper is missing. During Albert's first two weeks with us he had to float on an orange life vest in a shallow tub because he didn't have the strength to take his head out of the water to breathe. Due to this assistance along with regular fluids, tube feeding and antibiotics, Albert's health has started turning around. Now he swims with the others in the shallow rehab enclosure and is always eager for fish time. He's had quite a struggle to get where he is now, but due to his resolute determination he is gaining his health back every day! Click here for more pictures.
	Elune Rescued from a restaurant, cold stunned from being held in a bucket of ice water, but "warming up" to life again after the trauma. Click here for more pictures.
	Shandris Feathermoon Rescued from poachers, internal and external bacterial infection resulting in sloughing of the skin on flippers and neck caused by being held in poor quality water. Skin infection is healing well, Shandris can be seen constantly gliding through the water. Click here for more pictures.
	Lord Illidan Stormrage Rescued from poachers, has a condition called lordosis similar to scoliosis in humans. Lordosis is an extremely rare condition and is thought to be brought on by certain environmental conditions at a young age such as malnutrition. Active and also mischievous, often swims in circles to build up speed and then with a quick flip of his flipper splashes water onto unsuspecting volunteers. Click here for more pictures.
	Sylvanas Windrunner Rescued from poachers, heavily encrusted with barnacles, dehydrated, underweight, internal infection, and a large portion of both front flippers cut off by poachers. Sylvanas is truly a tenacious turtle, she was everything but lethargic when she first arrived, and has remained active. Her flippers are healing well and she has adapted to the loss, for she darts around the tank with surprising speed. Click here for more pictures.
	Birdie Rescued from poachers, severely debilitated, lethargic, anorexic, internal infection and a floater. After a month of fluids, tube feeding, force feeding, and antibiotics he is finally eating on his own. As he gains strength back, his true personality is starting to show. Click here for more pictures.
	Sadie Hawkins Rescued from poachers, severely debilitated, lethargic, anorexic, internal infection and a floater After a month of fluids, tube feeding, force feeding, and antibiotics he is finally eating on this own. Sadie is more stubborn than Birdie, which made him a difficult patient, but his stubborn determination to survive will help with his recovery. Click here for more pictures.
	Quasimodo Named after the hunched back protagonist in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Quasimodo has a condition called Kyphosis, which is a hump in the spine; it is thought to be caused by poor environmental conditions at a young age and malnutrition. Additionally, he is underweight, a floater, has an internal and external infection, an injury to his right front flipper, and a pea sized hole in his plastron. In spite of it all he has the spunky attitude of the runt of the group. Click here for more pictures.
	Cinnamon Rescued from poachers, internal infection, and damaged beak. His damaged beak gives him a winsome expression. Despite being the runt of the bunch, he is always the first to the food. Click here for more pictures.
	Neptulon Rescued from a restaurant, cold stunned. Neptulon is thankful to be back in his element after his near death experience. Click here for more pictures.
	Ossirian the Unscarred Condition at admittance: Lethargic, barnacle build, internal infection. Ossirian is a picky eater who prefers long fish, squid and one specific species of crabs. He had remained on bottom of enclosure until we got a guard dog for the hospital. He now frequents the surface to investigate the dog. At one point, the dog got startled and fell into Ossiran's tank, directly on top of his carapace while the turtle remained at the surface with the dog standing on his back. Click here for more pictures.
	Arygos Rescued from poachers, internal infection, lethargic, and underweight. Currently fat and happy and a tad bit lazy, usually found on the bottom of the tank napping, enjoys frequent back scratches to remove algae buildup. Click here for more pictures.


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