Patient story
Meet Bunny
Discover how your support helps turtles like Bunny return home.
Patient Info
SPECIES
Green Sea Turtle
aGE
5-10 Years
wEIGHT
9.5 Lbs
DATE ARRIVED
03/21/2026
ISSUE
Shark Bites / FP
the story
About Bunny
Bunny was found washed ashore on a beach in Flagler County. Upon arrival, Bunny had obvious shark bite wounds to the flippers and carapace. One bite wound fractured the ulna bone of the right front flipper. Bunny also had small yet numerous Fibropapilloma (FP) tumors.
Rescue
Bunny was rescued off the beach after washing ashore due to shark bite wounds and secondary issues related to the trauma. Bunny was unable to swim appropriately and eat well due to the injuries. He or she arrived to us emaciated and weak.
Diagnose
Bloodwork showed numerous abnormalities due to the shark injuries. Bunny had a systemic infection, severe hypoglycemia and evidence of blood loss with a reduced volume of blood cells. Radiographs revealed fractured bones.
Care
Bunny received topical wound treatments, systemic antibiotics, and a good diet. Already gaining weight, Bunny showed great progress in their healing journey early on. The fractured bone healed with the help of a therapeutic laser which speeds healing and reduces pain. Bunny had several surgical procedures to stabilize the broken right front flipper. Once better stabilized, Bunny then also underwent FP removal surgery.
Fun Fact
When taking radiographs of sea turtles with shark-bite injuries, we sometimes find broken sharks teeth still imbedded in the wounds. Sharks have multiple rows of teeth similar to a conveyor belt, so when one breaks or falls out, a new tooth from behind moves forward to replace it. We remove the tooth fragment and save it for our educational displays!
Released!
June 18, 2026
Bunny made a full recovery and was released back into the Atlantic Ocean on June 18, 2026!