Sponsor the Care of Fort George
By sponsoring the care of sea turtle Fort George you'll be supporting the Sea Turtle Hospital and the work we do to research, rehab and release these amazing animals. Your sponsorship can provide Fort George important medical supplies, nutritious food, critical exams and other types of care provided while at the Sea Turtle Hospital.
Suggested amount to sponsor the care of a turtle is $50. We appreciate gifts above $50 as well.
For joining us, you'll receive:
- A personalized certificate and choice to have it mailed to your home or emailed
- A monthly email update
- Advance notice of the turtle’s release (attendance at release not guaranteed)
You can even give a turtle sponsorship as a gift!
Please allow 2 weeks for mailed certificate to arrive. Emailed certificates sent within 3-4 business days.
For questions about sponsoring, please contact wlmb@whitney.ufl.edu.
Fort George's Story
Meet Fort George—the first named sea turtle patient of the year!
This juvenile green sea turtle was found washed ashore on scenic Fort George Island in Jacksonville, Florida, earning a name that honors their place of rescue.
Fort George arrived at our hospital on January 5th, presenting with a distended body, marine leeches, and visible Fibropapillomatosis (FP) tumors. Our animal care team immediately performed a thorough intake exam, including full-body X-rays and bloodwork, to rule out any additional injuries or abnormalities.
After reviewing the bloodwork, our veterinarian, Dr. Brooke, confirmed that Fort George was anemic—a condition we commonly see during the winter months, particularly in patients carrying marine leeches. To help remove the parasites and any other epibionts, Fort George received a freshwater “bath,” followed by a gentle cleaning, fluids, and antibiotics to support their recovery.
Upon entering one of our rehabilitation tanks, Fort George initially exhibited buoyancy issues and signs of stress—both typical for new patients adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings. After a quiet period of observation, our animal care team noted that George was beginning to settle in.
As part of their rehab routine, Fort George was offered a trial diet of seafood (bite size mackerel, herring, squid, and shrimp) and a variety of greens (green leaf, red leaf, romaine lettuce, green bell pepper, and cucumber donated weekly from the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and fresh Ulva or "sea lettuce" grown right here on site). While initially uninterested in seafood, they quickly ate their natural sea lettuce, eagerly munching away! Within just a few days, George's buoyancy resolved and started to show interest in eating seafood from the bottom of the tank—a huge step forward!
We've closely monitored Fort George’s anemia, providing extra iron-rich sea lettuce and administering injectable iron as needed. Now that the anemia is resolved and an initial CT scan was performed, Fort George is ready to start FP tumor removal surgeries.
Thanks to your support, Fort George is getting a second chance at life. Stay tuned for updates as this incredible turtle continues their journey toward recovery—and, hopefully, a return to the wild!