Turtle on arrival.

8/27 Turtle was found at Crystal River Power Plant.  It has fibropapillomatosis (tumors on skin) and had several traumatic injuries, including a missing rear flipper and a fractured carapace, and has severe blood loss anemia.  Treatment has been initiated.  Radiographs did not reveal any internal tumors. 8/30 Turtle began eating yesterday afternoon and is now in shallow water.  Anemia is beginning to resolve. 8/31 Turtle has a good appetite and is beginning to swim some.  Anemia is continuing to improve. 9/3 Anemia is much better, so will probably have surgery later this week.  Appetite is great, eating almost everything offered to it. 9/6 Doing better every day. 9/13 Turtle had surgery yesterday to remove largest tumors and amputate injured flipper with bones exposed.  Surgery went very well and turtle is eating already this morning. 9/16 Surgical sites appear to be healing very well.  Turtle's appetite and behavior are excellent. 9/22 Continuing to do very well.  Sutures removed. 9/25 Doing very well. 10/1 Surgery sites are almost completely healed.  Appetite continues to be excellent and turtle is gaining weight. 10/7 Continued improvement. 10/18 Remaining tumors have now been removed and carapace fracture continues to heal well. 10/28 Carapace injury is looking very much improved.  Some of flipper wounds are not yet healed, but are healing. 11/28 Wounds are almost completely healed at this point in time and turtle is doing very well. 12/8 Continuing to do very well. 12/14 Still doing very well. 1/3/07 Continuing to do very well.  Gaining weight and carapace injury is almost healed. 1/18 Turtle continues doing very well. 1/31 More of the same. 2/28 Continuing to do well. 3/29 Still doing well. 4/16 Continues to do well. 4/27 Turtle has been put on a diet, due to excess weight gain. 5/23 Turtle is continuing to do well.  May be ready for release in another month or so. 6/1 Continuing to do well. 7/12 Turtle has been approved for release in the next week. 7/17 Turtle was released this morning from outside Anclote Key, north of Tarpon Springs, Florida.  Release went very well.