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Blog & News

Sea Turtle Hospital Patient – Gryffindor

Former Patients Updated August 5, 2018 Posted December 14, 2016

Gryffindor

Juvenile, Green (Chelonia mydas)
Gryffindor, a green sea turtle, marine hospital patient
Patient Status
Released on July 6, 2017
Date Found
March 22, 2016
Location Found
John’s Pass, Pinellas County, FL
Reason for Rescue
Hooked by fisherman

Triage

Weight
8.65 kg (19.07 lbs)
SCL (STRAIGHT CARAPACE LENGTH)
41.6 cm (16.4 in)
EXAM FINDINGS
Fibropapillomas (“paps”) found in eyes and on plastron. Mild epibiota (organism that lives on the surface of another organism).
INITIAL TREATMENT
Received vitamins, fluids, and antibiotics

Gryffindor’s Story

Gryffindor is a juvenile green sea turtle that was accidentally hooked by a fisherman at John’s Pass, FL on March 22, 2016. Gryffindor was found to have numerous small to medium external fibropapilloma tumors.

Fibropapillomatosis is a virus that is common in juvenile green sea turtles, causing cauliflower-like tumors to grow on their soft tissues. This virus is very contagious amongst green sea turtles so once a turtle with this virus comes into our facility, it is quarantined in our Intensive Care Unit.

Although the cause of this virus is still unknown, you can help by keeping our oceans clean of trash and chemical pollutants.

FUN FACT: Gryffindor sounds like Darth Vader when he breathes


Treatment Updates

3.22.16

Tested in water to check swimming ability.

3.24.16

X-ray looks good!

4.14.16

START – Pap removal surgeries, allowing time in between for healing.

6.1.17

END – Pap removal surgeries, allowing time in between for healing.

6.29.17

Gryffindor has been cleared for release!


All marine turtle footage taken in Florida was obtained with the approval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) under conditions not harmful to marine turtles. Footage was acquired while conducting authorized conservation activities pursuant to FWC MTP-17-172.

Previous Post: Sea Turtle Hospital Patient – Vanilla Wafer
Next Post: Sea Turtle Hospital Patient – Gran Torino
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
249 Windward Passage
Clearwater, FL 33767
727-441-1790

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