Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/pregnant-turtle/

A 50-year-old loggerhead turtle was found at the Port St. Lucie power plant, which the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission immediately rescued and sent to Zoo Miami’s Sea Turtle Hospital for treatment according to zoo communications director Ron Magill.

The pregnant sea turtle was attacked by a shark on her way back to the beach where she was born in order to lay her own eggs. Her left fin was almost entirely bitten off by the shark, but she still managed to swim to safety.

At the hospital, the loggerhead turtle’s condition was first stabilized by placing her in a recovery tank. There, she was given vitamins, fluids, and adequate food.

On Memorial Day, she was transferred to a sand-filled pen where she was given oxytocin and calcium to prepare her for labor. The turtle, who was named Baymax, delivered more than 100 eggs which the hospital sent to the Miami-Dade Parks Sea Turtle Conservation Program for incubation in a man-made nest, added Magill.

Then, a few days later, Baymax underwent a seven-hour surgery in order to treat her badly-injured fin. Zoo Miami associate veterinarian Marisa Bezjian and chief veterinarian Gwen Myers had to remove Baymax’s exposed bone before treating the wound.

Baymax also has old scars on her shell, which means she had been attacked by another shark and struck by a boat earlier in her life.

During the rigorous operation, Baymax laid more eggs and these were taken to the Miami-Dade Parks Sea Turtle Conservation Program like the rest.

Based on their knowledge of sea turtles, there are many of these animals who have suffered similar experiences as Baymax but still managed to have productive lives. This is the same hope that the hospital nurtures as they keep a close watch on their patient who must be returned to the wild upon complete recovery.

Loggerhead turtles like Baymax are such amazing creatures, who can travel back to the same spot where they were born in order to nest. These turtles can accomplish this remarkable feat by using Earth’s magnetic field. However, over time, our planet’s magnetic field slowly shifts and loggerhead turtles adapt to these changes by moving their nesting sites in harmony with these subtle shifts.

Another extraordinary fact about loggerhead turtles is that their enormous shells serve as habitats for tiny plants and animals. About a hundred small flora and fauna species have been discovered in a single loggerhead turtle.

Watch this video of loggerhead turtles, the world’s second largest sea turtles!

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Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog