A hawksbill sea turtle who was found critically injured in October by a dive operator was returned to the sea last week after undergoing rehabilitation for its injuries.
Named "Lucky Bill" by rehabilitation teams at The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, the animal was missing part of his front left flipper and was lethargic when divers from the Rainbow Reef Dive Center found him while diving on French Reef.
The divers worked under the direction of Turtle Hospital staff to bring the hurt turtle to shore. Turtle Hospital teams treated Bill for an intestinal impaction, and also aided in the healing of the turtle's flipper injury.
After a few weeks of rehabilitation, Bill was transported in the turtle ambulance back to Key Largo and released back into his ocean home last Sunday.
If you come across a sick or injured sea turtle, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's 24-hour Wildlife Alert Number at 1-888-404-FWCC for assistance and instructions.
