Rescue and Research Facilities for Sea Turtles
Many sea turtles end up at rescue and rehab facilities because they are injured or sick. At these facilities the animals are treated and if possible released back into their native habitat. The turtles are treated for injuries to their flippers caused by predation, fishing line and trap rope entanglements, and often end up in amputation of the affected appendages.The shell can also be damaged by collisions with boats. Some animals are being treated for intestinal implications, like ingesting plastic bags, balloons, and fishing lines and hooks. In South Florida many turtles undergo surgery for removal of viral tumors (follow Fitzy's story at

Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Fl

http://www.turtlehospital.org/blog/). Besides rehabilitation and rescue these facilities offer field trips, education and some provide opportunities for adoption of animals, as well as for internships and volunteer work.

There are several rescue and rehabilitation facilities around the world, but here are a few of them.

Sea Turtle Inc is located in South Padre Island Texas and is primarily involved with the Kemp's Ridley turtles, but has other turtles as permanent residents like Allison, an Atlantic Green turtle that lost three of her flippers and now swims with prosthetic flippers. MJ   the loggerhead lost all four of his flippers in a shark attack and Hang10, a Kemp's Riddley with a genetic birth defect and now travels to local events and schools  to educate people.
http://www.seaturtleinc.org/

 The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida, who has Fitzy amongst other turtles in need of rescuing. The photo to the right, courtesy of turtlehospital.org, shows the tumors all over Fitzy, who is now cancer free.
 http://www.turtlehospital.org/blog/


The South Carolina Aquarium offers help for the sea turtles as well.
For more information on adoption, nest conservation, current residents and pictures please go to the websites listed below.
http://scaquarium.org/STR/

Allison @ seaturtleinc.