The Sea Turtle Hospital

In the Florida Keys, the Turtle Hospital is fighting to save the dwindling population of American sea turtles. The hospital, which works to rehabilitate sick and injured sea turtles, treats human-caused conditions like flipper amputations, shell damage from boat collisions, and intestinal issues from ingesting plastic bags and fishing line. The most common surgery performed at the Turtle Hospital is the removal of viral tumors called Fibropapilloma, that affect over half of green sea turtles. In this short film, The Atlantic goes inside the Turtle Hospital to see firsthand the fight against sea turtle extinction.
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