Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sea turtle injured in Virgin Islands flown to Fla.
MIAMI (AP) -- A hawksbill sea turtle that was attacked by wild dogs in the Virgin Islands has arrived for treatment at the Turtle Hospital in the Florida Keys.
Sandy, a 170-pound female turtle, arrived Tuesday night at Miami airport on a free flight from American Airlines.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials discovered the injured reptile in October during a turtle survey in the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge. Sandy sustained serious injuries to her two front flippers and left rear flipper.
She was treated at St. Croix's Island Animal Clinic, but veterinarians there decided to send her to the Turtle Hospital, a licensed veterinary facility that treats sick and injured sea turtles.
Officials hope to eventually return "Sandy" to St. Croix.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
