A 302-pound loggerhead sea turtle named Pennywise, struck by a boat off Florida's Atlantic coast, was taken in for urgent treatment at a turtle hospital this week — and revealed an unexpected surprise during her recovery. Too large to fit the Loggerhead Marinelife Center's imaging equipment, and even oversized for a human CT scanner at a nearby medical facility, Pennywise was eventually scanned at Palm Beach Equine Clinic using equipment designed for horses. The scan not only confirmed spinal trauma but also showed that the adult female turtle is carrying eggs. "We hope we'll be able to get her back out there into the wild as soon as possible so that she can lay those eggs," said Dr. Heather Barron, the center's chief science officer and veterinarian. Loggerhead turtles, classified as endangered, typically lay several clutches of eggs in a season. Pennywise's injuries — a result of blunt force trauma to her shell — were already healing when she was found floating in the Atlantic by the Inwater Research Group and brought to the Juno Beach facility last Monday. CT images showed damage near her spinal cord, but Barron said Pennywise currently shows no neurological impairment. She is being treated with high-powered antibiotics and is monitored closely for signs of recovery. "Luckily, right now, her neurologic exam shows that all those nerves are intact. And that is a great sign," Barron said. The case, Barron added, is a tragic example of how sea turtles returning to coastal waters during mating and nesting season often fall victim to avoidable boat strikes. Florida's turtle nesting season runs from March 1 to Oct. 31. Officials are urging boaters to slow down and stay alert, especially within the Sea Turtle Protection Zone, which extends one mile off Florida's Atlantic coastline. Once Pennywise's wound is fully healed and her health stabilized, the goal is to return her to the ocean to complete her nesting cycle. — Agencies
