Turtle Hospital

On Monday morning we set out early to have breakfast at 'The Stuffed Pig'. After breakfast we took a bike ride along route 1 to the seven mile bridge. On the way we passed a sign which brought back a lot of memories from across the sea.

For those of you who are not aware of this my home, Kinvara,  in Ireland was on the south coast of Galway Bay.

At 10 o'clock we had an appointment at the Turtle Hospital. It was a bitter/sweet 90 minutes. Only days before I had swam with a Loggerhead turtle in the wild on the reef and experienced something that so few have the privileged to do. Looking at the effect that humans have on these beautiful creatures is devastating. We were shown items such as fishing line with the hooks attached that have been removed from the intestines of the ones that were lucky to have been rescued. Many more are hit by boats and propellers every day and most die from their injuries. The impact of plastic in the ocean is beyond comprehension. We were reminded of the huge skeleton of the whale we saw at the sea park in the Bahamas who's stomach was full of plastic bottles which eventually killed him. The ironic part of all this is the fact that there is no effort in most places we have been on The Keys that have recycle programs. 

How about their very own ambulance!

Born with a bent spine he has weights
 attached to keep him upright.

Some of the items removed from rescued Turtles.

Turtle X ray room

Turtle surgery



The largest is a Leather Back and the smallest is a Green Turtle.