SEA TURTLE Hospital:
READY TO RESCUE AND REHABILITATE
Baymax, the first ever patient for the hospital!
Zoo Miami is excited to announce the opening of our brand new Sea Turtle Hospital, our newest conservation effort helping some familiar faces here in our own backyard. While the official ribbon cutting is set for July 6, 2022, we’ve already begun the work, taking in our first two patients. The first, “Baymax,” was treated for a shark bite and continues to recuperate in the hospital. The second patient was struck by a boat, and unfortunately had to be euthanized to prevent further suffering. Future patients will likely have suffered similar injuries, or they may have become tangled in a fishing line, eaten plastic, or may be cold-stunned. Sea turtles are a “keystone species” meaning that they play a vital role in the environment and influence other species around them. If a keystone species is removed from a habitat, their ecosystems become disrupted, causing a domino effect on other wildlife and the environment. All sea turtle species are currently considered threatened and endangered. By providing care for injured and ill sea turtles, the new hospital is doing essential work toward protecting and preserving this endangered species. Read the full story of Baymax’s rescue on page 10!
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