Sponsor the Care of Koh Samui
By sponsoring the care of sea turtle Koh Samui 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 Koh Samui 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.
Koh Samui's Story
Meet Koh Samui, a spirited juvenile green sea turtle who’s winning hearts as they recover from a tough journey. On May 18th, Koh Samui was found floating in distress near a marina in Volusia County on Ponce Inlet. This animal was found with fishing line loosely tangled around their neck, flippers, and tail. To make matters worse, this resilient turtle was burdened by a heavy load of fibropapillomatosis (FP) tumors, which can often cause entanglement issues for marine debris like fishing line.
On intake Dr. Brooke performed a full comprehensive examination which included bloodwork and radiographs. Aside from being just a little underweight, Koh Samui’s bloodwork values were within normal limits and radiographs showed no signs of any anomalies. Also noted during this comprehensive exam was old, but fully healed trauma to the carapace (top of shell). Which could have been from a previous vessel strike or predation wounds. None the less, Koh Samui was able to heal this on their own in the wild.
Since arriving in our care, Koh Samui has made great strides. They are eagerly eating their complete diet of seafood and greens, showing a healthy appetite and a determined spirit is always a great sign. Their bubbly personality has made them a favorite among staff and volunteers alike.
By sponsoring Koh Samui, you’ll be supporting their recovery journey, helping to cover medical treatments, nutritious food, and daily care until they’re strong enough for release. Your support also helps raise awareness about the dangers marine life face from human-related impacts like fishing line entanglement.