12/08/2021  Turtle was found floating under the Dunlawton Bridge in Port Orange, Volusia County.  He was transported to Brevard Zoo Sea Turtle Healing Center where he was started on subcutaneous fluids.  There are numerous fibropapilloma tumors present on this animal.

12/17/2021  In order to free up space at the sea turtle rehabilitation facilities on Florida's east coast, Professor Hinkle was transported to Mote for continued rehabilitation.

12/24/2021  Professor Hinkle is eating well.  He is still lethargic so he is being kept in shallow water.  Blood work indicates an elevated white blood cell count, so turtle is being given injectable antibiotics every 3 days.

01/06/2022 Professor Hinkle is continuing to eat well and is given an oral antibiotic daily.

01/15/2022  Professor Hinkle is active and eating well.  His tank was raised to full water depth.  He is still on oral antibiotics until blood work improves.  

01/29/2022  Professor Hinkle had surgery today to remove all of the fibropapilloma tumors.

02/04/2022  Professor Hinkle is eating well following his surgery.  He is in shallow water, however, due to buoyancy issues.

02/27/2022  Professor is very active, eating well, and is gaining weight.  There is possible regrowth of tumors, but will monitor for the time being while animal heals.  Animal is still on daily antibiotics due to an elevated white blood cell count.

04/01/2022  Turtle is very active, eating well, and gaining a lot of weight.  Blood values have improved, so oral antibiotics were discontinued.  Turtle is being monitored for possible tumor re-growth.  Some suspicious areas on the plastron were treated with cryotherapy.

04/30/2022  Turtle had a second surgery today to remove some fibropapilloma tumors that re-grew.  

06/10/2022  Professor Hinkle is healing well from his surgeries.  He is very active and eating well.  

07/02/2022  Professor Hinkle was started on oral antibiotics due to an elevation in his white blood cell count.

08/15/2022  Turtle had a third surgery today to remove some fibropapilloma tumors that re-grew.  

08/20/2022  Professor Hinkle is recovering well and antibiotics were discontinued.

09/15/2022  Professor Hinkle was released at Ormond Beach today by Mote staff and interns!