Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) released its longest-term patient to date, a sub-adult green sea turtle named Topsy.
Topsy first arrived at the center on December 18, 2018, after sustaining boat strike trauma to its carapace and being rescued by U.S. Coast Guard personnel from offshore. Two years later, the sea turtle patient was deemed healthy for release by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and LMC veterinarians.
In its recovery, Topsy’s buoyancy disorder was temporarily alleviated with a lead weight attached to its carapace, which was regularly assessed and refined. After over two years of time, the turtle was finally able to swim without additional weight. In that same time frame, the patient’s other conditions were successfully treated and the turtle was medically cleared for release. On June 23, Topsy was privately released behind the Center on Juno Beach, FL.
