Sea Turtle Hospital patient Koh Samui returned to their ocean home on October 14! Koh Samui was released at Tom Renick Park in Ormond Beach. We’re incredibly grateful to their sponsorship families for supporting their care and recovery.
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 made great strides. They eagerly ate their complete diet of seafood and greens, showing a healthy appetite and a determined spirit was always a great sign. Their bubbly personality made them a favorite among staff and volunteers alike.