A seriously injured loggerhead sea turtle that may have been struck by a boat was rescued from a canal near Coconut Grove Monday.
The 250-pound turtle was in distress with damage to its shell and eye, and was missing a right front flipper when it was spotted by a homeowner, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Jorge Pino said.
FWC officers arrived and were able to take the turtle to the Miami Seaquarium by boat for treatment.
Seaquarium spokeswoman Jodi Tuzinski said the turtle, believed to be between 15 and 20 years old, appeared to have been struck by a boat and had a bad wound to her shell. She said the turtle was lethargic, which was to be expected because of her wounds, but was able to eat and dive.
"The injuries look severe but it looks like hopefully everything will work out and we'll be able to save this turtle," Pino said. "If she doesn't survive it's not for the lack of trying."
Tuzinski said veterinarians will check out the turtle and hopefully get her back in the water.
"It's important that we try to get her back out there so she can keep reproducing and keep raising those numbers," she said.
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