After a 13-Month Rehab, Andre the Sea Turtle Returns to the Sea

This is a remarkable story that was shared by an internet friend — it’s about an injured sea turtle and the relentless efforts of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Florida.

For the past 13 months, Andre, an endangered green sea turtle at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in West Palm Beach has been undergoing a rehabilitation program and some medical procedures not often used on animals.

On June 15, Andre was found on Juno Beach with severe watercraft injuries. Andre’s shell was badly damaged, and there was more than three pounds of sand pressing down on his internal organs – not to mention a collapsed lung and pneumonia. The outlook wasn’t good.

But thanks to some incredible work by Dr. Alberto Vargas of Vargas Orthodontics in Jupiter, Andre’s shell was repaired using pressure applied by orthodontic appliances. His rehab is complete, and he’ll be returning to the sea.

The Loggerhead Marinelife Center in West Palm Beach is open to the public, so if you are in the area, be sure to stop by and check out their sea turtle care and education. There are also weekly programs for children, plus guided tours of the facility.

h/t: VisitFlorida

Photo Credit: www.marinelife.org

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