Rescued Melbourne Sea Turtle Receives Care At SeaWorld
ORLANDO, Florida - A sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle that was rescued yesterday by Melbourne
Police and Brevard Sheriff’s Deputies is now being cared for at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida.
Around 9:00 a.m. yesterday, the Brevard
County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit responded to a call of a possible swimmer
in distress in the Indian River Lagoon.
Melbourne Police Officers Kevin Palmeri and Amy Perez, along with Sgt. Byron Keck of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, took the Melbourne Police boat north of the Eau Gallie Causeway to the location of the turtle. Once located, officers noticed that the turtle was bobbing in the water and having a difficult time submerging itself.
Upon arrival, Sheriff’s helicopter
personnel determined it was not a swimmer that needed help, but it was a
large sea turtle. The Melbourne Police Marine Unit was then called
upon to help aid the turtle.
Melbourne Police Officers Kevin Palmeri and Amy Perez, along with Sgt. Byron Keck of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, took the Melbourne Police boat north of the Eau Gallie Causeway to the location of the turtle. Once located, officers noticed that the turtle was bobbing in the water and having a difficult time submerging itself.
The Sea Turtle Preservation Society was
contacted and the situation was explained to them. The Preservation
Society informed the officers that the turtle needed medical attention
and it could die if it was not rescued. It was at this time that the
three officers pulled the estimated 200 pound loggerhead turtle up onto
the boat and brought it to shore.
Once on shore, Sea Turtle Preservation
Society personnel took custody of the loggerhead sea turtle. Officers
were informed that the turtle would be brought to Sea World for emergency care and rehabilitation.
SeaWorld Orlando’s turtle experts and vets have
been conducting health assessments on the turtle to determine the cause
of its behavior, which includes having trouble diving and seeming to be
disoriented. The tests have included blood
samples, x-rays and behavioral evaluations. At this time no physical
health problems have been discovered and the team will continue to care
for the 168-pound turtle until its health improves.
SeaWorld's
animal rescue team is on call 24/7 to save and care for injured,
orphaned or ill animals. So far in 2012, SeaWorld Orlando has
rehabilitated 27 turtles.
Image Credit: SeaWorld Orlando
