A juvenile green sea turtle that underwent multiple surgeries to remove cauliflower-like tumors was released last week off the Florida Keys with a satellite-tracking transmitter.
鈥淭ortie鈥 was treated at the Keys-based Turtle Hospital after being rescued last December. The turtle was unable to dive and suffering from fibropapillomatosis - a debilitating tumor-causing disease that develops from a herpes-like virus that affects sea turtle species around the world.
After Tortie鈥檚 tumors were removed, the reptile鈥檚 treatment included antibiotics, fluids, vitamins and a diet of mixed seafood and greens.
The turtle鈥檚 satellite tracker will be monitored as part of the 15th annual , an online 鈥渞ace鈥 organized by the Sea Turtle Conservancy that follows the long-distance migration of a contingent of sea turtles over three months.
鈥淚n addition to the educational aspect of the Tour de Turtles, we鈥檙e also learning about where these turtles are going and then can look and see if there are any threats that the turtles face in these areas,鈥 said Dan Evans, senior research biologist with the conservancy.
Tortie, who was released Friday, is competing in the hard-shell turtles鈥 division that features about a dozen contestants, with tracking to begin Aug. 1.
鈥淥ne sea turtle can make a difference, not only going back to the ocean and having baby sea turtles, but the bigger reach is helping people to care about sea turtles and our oceans,鈥 said Bette Zirkelbach, the hospital鈥檚 general manager.