Captain

Green (Chelonia mydas)

(ST10169)

Age Class	Juvenile
Gender	Unknown
Date Stranded	December 11, 2010
Location of Stranding	Intake Canal at St. Lucie Power Plant
Date of Arrival	December 12, 2010
Number of Days of Care	1115 days

Final Disposition

Turtle was humanely euthanized after several inoperable internal tumors were found.

underbelly of sea turtle with papilloma named captain

Captain upon admission to the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital.

12/13 Captain arrived at Mote. Despite numerous papilloma tumors, the turtle was very alert. Papilloma tumors are caused by a condition called Fibropapillomatosis. The cause of this disease is still unknown, but research indicates that it could be caused by a virus. The tumors are highly vascularized, which means they have a large and abundant blood flow throughout. They require special laser surgery to be removed. Captain was weighed, X-rayed, given fluids and blood samples were taken for analysis. Due to the turtle's feisty nature, water testing went smoothly. Captain even ate within an hour of arrival. 12/20 Captain continues to eat well. The turtle receives antibiotics daily and is scheduled to have surgery to remove the tumors in mid-January. 1/29 Captain had surgery and most of the tumors were removed. The turtle recovered quickly and began eating within a few hours; a second surgery will be needed to remove the remaining tumors. 2/25 Captain had more X-rays to determine whether he has internal tumors. 3/28 After extensive examination of X-rays and an MRI, Mote's veterinarian determined that Captain had several internal tumors that were inoperable. Captain was humanely euthanized and a later necropsy showed several abnormalities on the turtle's internal organs, in addition to the tumors.

Turtles with Fibropapillomatosis require very expensive treatment, including laser surgery to remove the tumors. Please click here to make a donation that will help us treat Captain and other turtles with papilloma tumors.