Barnett the Sea Turtle Released in Salt Run on June 7

We are pleased to announce that the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab released Barnett in Salt Run on June 7, 2017, in Anastasia State Park. A dedicated crowd of sea turtle enthusiasts attended the rainy release to wish Barnett well as he/she went back home. Barnett is the 13 sea turtle released by the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab.

Barnett is a juvenile green sea turtle that was found by a local fisherman in the Matanzas River near Summer Haven, Florida. Barnett’s right front flipper was entangled in fishing line, and the other end of the line was wrapped around mangrove roots, making it impossible for Barnett to swim away. The fisherman, Mr. Sean Barnett (for whom the turtle was named), made a video of the turtle’s rescue. He realized that Barnett would need medical help and brought the turtle to the Whitney Lab. Our staff met Mr. Barnett after hours at the lab and immediately got to work assessing the health of Barnett the turtle.

Barnett’s right front flipper was so badly entangled that circulation had been cut off to the limb. On the night of his/her arrival, we were forced to amputate Barnett’s right front flipper. Once he/she had healed from that, we then performed multiple procedures to remove fibropapillomatosis tumors from his/her skin. Barnett is a very strong swimmer and will have no problem surviving with only three flippers.

Thank you to everyone who attended the release!