Endangered sea turtle lays 6 eggs at Fla. hospital
MARATHON, Fla. (AP) — An injured endangered sea turtle has laid six eggs after being brought a turtle hospital in the Florida Keys.
Bette Zirkelbach is the administrator of the hospital. She says staff was able to harvest the eggs and they have been put in an incubator with sand from the U.S. Virgin Islands. That way if the eggs hatch, the hawksbill sea turtles will be familiar with their native sand.
Any hatchlings will be taken to the same St. Croix beach where the mother was found Aug. 24.
Officials say the turtle has deep wounds on both shoulders and might have been hooked by a fisherman and then repeatedly gaffed to remove the fishing gear.
The mother is in guarded condition.
Bette Zirkelbach is the administrator of the hospital. She says staff was able to harvest the eggs and they have been put in an incubator with sand from the U.S. Virgin Islands. That way if the eggs hatch, the hawksbill sea turtles will be familiar with their native sand.
Any hatchlings will be taken to the same St. Croix beach where the mother was found Aug. 24.
Officials say the turtle has deep wounds on both shoulders and might have been hooked by a fisherman and then repeatedly gaffed to remove the fishing gear.
The mother is in guarded condition.
Aww that it so sad. Hopefully the mama is ok and the eggs have a great chance to hatch. I'd like to see an update on this story when they do!
The people working these projects are making a positive difference. I hope the turtle makes it, but the eggs likely stand a better chance than in the wild. At least the young turtles will get their chance. I wish the mom a good recovery and hopefully a return to the wild as well. Â