Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center Treats ‘Biscuit’ with New Device to Fix Fishing Line Injury
By Space Coast Daily // August 5, 2024
device was purchased thanks to grant from National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center members treated one of their newest sea turtle patients on the road to recovery with a new device received through donation.
Biscuit the loggerhead sea turtle was brought to the Healing Center on May 21. Brevard County Ocean Rescue responded after Biscuit became entangled in a fisherman’s line.
While the fishing line didn’t leave any lasting harm, Biscuit’s left flipper had presumedly been injured by a predator.
The Healing Center team tried to help the injury, which was revealed to be a compound fracture, with leech therapy and lymphatic massage when Biscuit arrived. Biscuit was also placed on antibiotics and pain medication.
Unfortunately, the team found on May 22 that there was no blood flow to the flipper, and it would need to be removed.
The veterinary team carefully performed this procedure using a new carbon dioxide laser.
This device was purchased thanks to a grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) through their Sea Turtles Conservation Program, a partnership between NFWF, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
A laser was an especially effective tool for this procedure because it reduced bleeding and was less painful.
Biscuit was also given negative-pressure wound therapy, which helped reduce swelling and remove fluids from the affected area, promoting improved blood flow and new skin cell growth.
While Biscuit’s prognosis is still guarded, we’re hopeful this sea turtle will fully recover and be released back into the ocean. Even with three flippers, Biscuit can still navigate and aid their native range.
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