Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center Released Wounded Sea Turtle ‘Kernel’ For Swallowing Hook
By Elliot Zirulnik, Brevard Zoo // May 3, 2019
'Kernel' was nursed back to health with antibiotics, fluids and nutritional support
ABOVE VIDEO: Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center released juvenile green sea turtle “Kernel.” This patient was admitted in January after ingesting a fishhook, which required surgical removal.
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center recently released juvenile green sea turtle “Kernel.” This patient was admitted in January after ingesting a fishhook, which required surgical removal.
Kernel—so named for arriving on National Popcorn Day—was nursed back to health with antibiotics, fluids and nutritional support.
“Accidents happen, and you won’t get in any legal trouble for inadvertently hooking a sea turtle,” said Shanon Gann, the Zoo’s sea turtle program manager.
“If possible, don’t cut the line, and use a net to safely guide the sea turtle to shore or onto your boat; in fact, many piers have nets available for this purpose.
Do not reel the sea turtle in as this could deepen the wound. Then call Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC for further instruction.
“This is what the couple that hooked Kernel did, and that decision quite possibly saved Kernel’s life.”
Hooks that are no longer of use can be disposed of responsibly by being wrapped in several layers of paper, then placed in the garbage.
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