A 145 kg loggerhead turtle named Lenny, rescued off the Florida Keys with severe injuries from a shark attack, has been successfully released back into the ocean. Lenny was found in mid-March near Alligator Reef with a badly damaged flipper and head trauma.
Mike Papish, an underwater photographer, spotted the struggling turtle and, with the help of Sundance WaterSports, brought Lenny to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida. The Turtle Hospital, a dedicated organization for endangered sea turtle preservation, provided intensive care, including IV fluids and antibiotics.
Despite losing part of his left front flipper, Lenny recovered and was released back to the reef on March 25th. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, only 1 in 1,000 sea turtles survive to adulthood, making Lenny's survival vital for his species.
Bette Zirkelbach, manager at the Turtle Hospital, emphasized the challenges sea turtles face from infancy, highlighting Lenny's triumph over the odds. Lenny's rescuer, Mike Papish, shared an emotional moment as Lenny appeared to acknowledge him before swimming away.