{"id":1517,"date":"2024-01-03T11:28:51","date_gmt":"2024-01-03T16:28:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mote.org\/?post_type=program&p=1517"},"modified":"2025-03-28T15:45:47","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T19:45:47","slug":"sea-turtle-rehabilitation-hospital","status":"publish","type":"program","link":"https:\/\/mote.org\/research\/program\/sea-turtle-rehabilitation-hospital\/","title":{"rendered":"Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital"},"content":{"rendered":"

SEARCH FOR SPECIFIC ANIMAL PATIENTS<\/a><\/p>\n

Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital provides state-of-the-art critical care and chronic care for sea turtles and works closely with Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program in response to stranded turtles and marine mammals. The hospital’s mission is to rehabilitate these animals and return them to the marine environment, while gaining information that will expand knowledge of the biology, disease processes and veterinary care of these animals.<\/p>\n

Our hospital has admitted hundreds of sick and injured sea turtles since 1995, including all five species found in the Gulf of Mexico. Mote has one of the few hospitals in Florida with special facilities and training to care for turtles suffering from fibropapilloma tumors.<\/p>\n

For our younger sea turtle patients, Mote operates a sea turtle hatchling hospital, where hatchlings receive vital care before being successfully returned to the ocean.<\/p>\n

We aim to help all our turtle patients return to the marine environment and contribute to their populations for years to come. This matters greatly: All sea turtle species are threatened or endangered.<\/p>\n

\"AWe are extremely grateful to the Sea Turtle Grants Program of the Sea Turtle Conservancy. They have awarded more than two dozen grants to Mote over the years, including for our Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital and for our conservation and research efforts with sea turtles in the environment. The Sea Turtle Grants Program is funded by proceeds from the sale of the Florida Sea Turtle License Plate. Learn more at: <\/span>helpingseaturtles.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n

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\n \n \"Spock <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n Mistaken for a rock, Spock the loggerhead sea turtle was brought into Mote lethargic and covered with barnacles. Photos taken on Thursday, August 3rd, 2017. <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
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\n \n \"\" <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n Mote's rehabilitation team takes care of a green sea turtle. <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
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\n \n \"Loggerhead <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n Loggerhead sea turtle hatchling in Mote's Hatchling Hospital. Credit: Conor Goulding \/ Mote Marine Laboratory <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
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\n \n \"\" <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n Lynne Byrd tags a Kemp's ridley sea turtle's flipper before the turtle is released from Mote's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital. Credit: Hayley Rutger\/Mote Marine Laboratory <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
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\n \n \"\" <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n A green sea turtle in Mote's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
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\n \n \"A <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n A rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtle returns to the ocean wearing a satellite tag to track its movements. Photo credit: Hayley Rutger\/Mote Marine Laboratory <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

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Program Details<\/h2>\n
\n \n Current Projects\n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n
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