- April 23, 2024
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Sea Turtle Hospital Program Manager Cat Eastman with juvenile green sea turtle "Granny Smith" and Tori Summers, an animal care technician at the hospital. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
"Artichoke" will be finding his own dinner tonight. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Sea Turtle Hospital Program Manager Catherine Eastman has been working with sea turtles in Florida since 1998. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Sea Turtle Hospital Veterinarian Dr. Brooke Burkhalter educates the crowd that gathered to watch the animals' release. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Well-wishers gathered to celebrate the release of the juvenile green sea turtles. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Devon Rollinson-Ramia, Sea Turtle Hospital manager and veterinary technician, presents "Artichoke" to the crowd before release. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Sea Turtle Hospital DVM Brooke Burkhalter interacts with the crowd gathered for the animals' release. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
There were plenty of supporters on hand to witness the animals' release. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Sea Turtle Hospital DVM Brooke Burkhalter and Sea Turtle Hospital Manager and veterinary technician Devon Rollinson-Ramia prepare to release "Artichoke" back into the wild. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
The crowd celebrates as the animals are released into the surf. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Sea Turtle Hospital Program Manager Cat Eastman with juvenile green sea turtle "Granny Smith" and technician Tori Summers, followed by the animals' veterinarian, Dr. Brooke Burkhalter. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Supporters cheer on the animals' release. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Photo opportunities for staff and volunteers, and the public that attended. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Cat Eastman releases "Granny Smith." Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Veterinary technician Devon Rollinson-Ramia celebrates the release of "Artichoke." Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Sea Turtle Hospital Program Manager Cat Eastman and technician Tori Summers celebrate a successful release. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
The team of staff and volunteers at the Whitney Laboratory of Marine Science's Sea Turtle Hospital. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Two young sea turtles felt the warm, frothing waters of the Florida surf beneath their flippers for the first time in months on July 14 as Whitney Laboratory scientists carried them out into the Atlantic and lowered them into the waves.
A crowd of beachgoers followed the scientists and volunteers, waving and cheering as the turtles swam off.
The two green sea turtles — named "Granny Smith" and "Artichoke" — had spent five months and 17 months, respectively, at the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience's Sea Turtle Hospital recovering from Fibropapillomatosis, a viral tumor-causing disease common in the region's turtles.
Scientists first began noticing the disease decades ago in turtles in the Keys; by the '90s, it had spread to the Indian River Lagoon. Scientists are still learning about how it spreads, and University of Florida Assistant Professor David Duffy is exploring factors that drive the disease.
Fibropapillomatosis is especially common in the local turtle population, and the Sea Turtle Hospital at the Whitney Laboratory typically has around eight turtles in its care.
Both Artichoke and Granny Smith, who's actually a male, underwent multiple surgeries.
Artichoke's condition was severe enough that one of her flippers had to be removed after a year of care, said Catherine "Cat" Eastman, the Sea Turtle Hospital's program manager.
Sea Turtle Hospital veterinarian Brooke Burkhalter used CO2 lasers to remove the tumors, and staff and volunteers fed the turtles a grand final dinner the night before their release.
For more information about the Sea Turtle Hospital, click here. To sponsor a turtle, click here.
— Jonathan Simmons contributed to this story.
