• Skip to main content

Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s Manatee Rehabilitation Center Officially Breaks Ground! Read More

  • Rescue Map
  • Careers
    • Job Opportunities
    • Internships
  • Visit CMA
    • Visit Info
    • Tickets
    • Experience
    • Plan An Event
    • Learn
    • Webcams
  • News
    • Press Releases
    • Sea Turtle Patients
    • Sea Turtle Releases
    • Manatee Tracking
    • Manatee UME
    • 2022-2023 Right Whale Calving Season
    • Rescue Stories
Clearwater Marine Aquarium Logo

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

  • What We Do
    • Rescue, Rehab, Release
    • Animal Care
    • Conservation & Research
    • Inspire The Human Spirit
  • Get Involved
    • Ways to Give
    • Save a Seat
    • Membership
    • Volunteer
    • Careers & Internships
  • Research Institute
    • Manatee Research
    • Manatee Tracking
    • Right Whale Research
    • Expeditions
    • Project Partners
    • Meet Our Researchers
  • Education & Resources
    • Educational Resources
    • Off-Site Programs
    • Amigos de Las Tortugas
    • Education Station
    • Report An Animal
  • About
    • 50 Years of CMA
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Board of Directors
    • Executive Leadership
    • Contact Us
    • Financial Reports
    • Press & News
  • Donate
Blog & News

Sea Turtle Hospital Patient – Mesa Verde

Current Patients Updated May 19, 2023 Posted March 20, 2023

Mesa Verde

Green, Juvenile (Chelonia mydas)
Patient Status
Current
Date Found
March 9, 2023
Location
Near Cedar Key; Levy County
Reason for Rescue
Floating

Initial Assessment

Weight
3.6 kg (7.9 lbs)
SCL (Straight Carapace Length)
29.8 cm
Exam Findings
Heavy load of epibiota on carapace. Minor fibropapilloma tumors present.
Initial Treatment
Vitamin injections, fluids, and antibiotics.

Mesa Verde‘s Story

Mesa Verde is a juvenile green sea turtle who was found floating near Cedar Key on March 9. Mesa is underweight and covered in a large amount of epibiota that includes algae, barnacles, and sea squirts. Mesa also has a minor case of fibropapilloma tumors with a small tumor on one eye. Mesa’s initial treatment plan consists of vitamin injection, fluids, and antibiotics.

INTERESTING FACT: Mesa Verde is named after Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, USA.

Treatment Updates

3.11.23

Mesa Verde was swim tested for the first time. Due to their floating behaviors, Mesa was placed in a shallow kiddie pool. Offered food for the first time and showed interest!

3.15.23

Mesa is able to be in a kiddie pool all day and overnight!

3.16.23

We are starting to incorporate daily deep water time! Mesa is doing well!

3.19.23

Mesa is able to be in deep water all day and overnight!

3.22.23

Mesa has been started officially on a diet and is eating well!

3.31.23

Mesa is continuing to do well, we have increased their diet!

4.14.23
Mesa Verde

Mesa’s carapace was cleaned again at their routine exam this week and is healing well! Mesa is gaining weight!

5.17.23

Mesa is ready for eye surgery!


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-23/24-172.

Previous Post: Rescued Dolphin Continues to Show Progress at Fred Howard Park Stranding Facility
Next Post: Sea Turtle Hospital Patient – Olympic
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
249 Windward Passage
Clearwater, FL 33767
727-441-1790

Sign up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe

Shop • Careers & Internships • Contact


Visit Us

Buy Tickets • Watch Webcams • Camps • Upcoming Events



© 2023 Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Privacy Policy • Terms & Conditions • Accessibility

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM, A FL-BASED NONPROFIT CORPORATION (REGISTRATION NO. CH352), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OR BY VISITING www.800helpfla.com. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Federal Tax ID#: 59-2086737.

  • What We Do
  • Get Involved
  • Research Institute
  • Education & Resources
  • About
  • Visit CMA
  • Membership
  • Careers
  • Donate
  • Blog & News
  • Rescue Map