Sponsor the Care of Maui
By sponsoring the care of sea turtle Maui 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 Maui with 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.
Maui's Story
Meet Maui — A True Survivor and a BIG Deal!
Maui made a dramatic entrance into our care after being found washed ashore five miles south of our hospital, becoming the 205th patient of the year and the second-largest patient we’ve ever treated. Weighing in at 55 lbs, this subadult green sea turtle carries the scars of a difficult past, including two old, but mostly healed boat strike wounds across the carapace. These injuries are a reminder of the challenges sea turtles face in the wild—and just how resilient they can be.
Maui also arrived with moderate fibropapillomatosis (FP), with tumor clusters on all four flippers and a small tumor near the cloaca, as well as a moderate epibiota load of barnacles and marine leeches. On intake, Maui underwent a full veterinary exam, radiographs, bloodwork, and a freshwater soak to remove epibionts and marine leeches.
Dr. Brooke notes that Maui’s condition is guarded, with mild swelling around the shoulders and neck, and deep, debris-filled boat strike wounds that will require intensive wound care.
Maui’s journey will be long and challenging, but our team is dedicated to providing every opportunity for recovery. With your support, we can help Maui heal and hopefully one day return to the ocean where this story began.
Now safely settled into our rehab facility, Maui is adjusting beautifully. Our team is closely monitoring behavior, appetite, and energy levels, and Maui has already started eating well, cleverly taking oral vitamins and calcium supplements hidden in seafood treats.