Jelly Bean
- Patient Status
- Released June 22, 2022
- Date Found
- April 17, 2022
- Location
- Honeymoon Island; Pinellas County
- Reason for Rescue
- Found floating with difficulty staying submerged
Initial Assessment
- Weight
- 28.9 kg (63.6 lbs)
- SCL (Straight Carapace Length)
- 59.1 cm
- Exam Findings
- Good body condition. Alert and good body condition. There is an old, healed injury on the carapace (shell).
- Initial Treatment
- Vitamin injections, antibiotics, and fluids
Jelly Bean’s Story
Jelly Bean is large juvenile, almost a subadult, green sea turtle that was found floating near Honeymoon Island. It was reported that Jelly Bean had difficulty staying submerged. At the examination, Jelly Bean was active and in good body condition. There is also an old, healed injury to Jelly Bean’s caudal carapace (shell). Jellybean’s initial treatment consists of vitamin injections, antibiotics, and fluids.
INTERESTING FACT: Jelly Bean’s name is inspired by being rescued on Easter! Sea turtles species are divided up into life stages depending on their straight carapace (shell) lengths. Jelly Bean is less than 1 cm away from being classified as a subadult green sea turtle!
Treatment Updates
- 4.18.22
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Jelly Bean’s first swim test revealed she is buoyant. We will continue to monitor. Radiographs taken revealed there is a lot of gastrointestinal gas.
- 4.21.22
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Jelly Bean went for a CT scan. We are continuing to do glucose checks and giving fluids as needed and mointoring defecations. She has started to show interest in food!
- 5.3.22
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Jelly Bean has been consistently resting flat on the bottom of her pool for the last few days! This is very exciting progress!
- 5.13.22
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Jelly Bean is still consistently resting on the bottom! She has started to show interest in her greens! Jelly Bean was taken off a few oral medications.
- 5.25.22
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Jelly Bean was moved to a deeper pool! She is continuing to rest flat and showing no buoyancy issues!
- 6.22.22
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Jelly Bean was released at Honeymoon Island!
Learn more about Jelly Bean’s 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-21/22-172A.