On Feb. 28, Khepri, a juvenile green sea turtle was found on a rocky sea cliff of St. Thomas, Coculus Point in Bolongo Bay, barely conscious and upside down on the rocks while bleeding. The turtle had a massive traumatic injury on his right front flipper which appeared to be from a predation event. The turtle was taken to Coral World in St. Thomas, where he was kept out of water for the next two weeks while receiving fluid and antibiotic therapy and wound treatments 2-3 times per day.
After it was determined that Khepri was stable enough to travel, American Airlines assisted in his transfer from St. Thomas to Miami on March 26, where he would receive treatment for his severely injured flipper at the Turtle Hospital in the Florida Keys.
When Mark Nelson, General Manager for American Airlines in the U.S. Virgin Islands, heard about the mission at hand, he immediately raised his hand and offered to bring the turtle himself. “I am a diver and value sea life,” he said when heard about the sick turtle. “Our flippers are crossed for Khepri to get better and be able to return to the water soon.”
This is the second time Mark volunteers to transport an injured sea turtle for treatment from the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mark and the turtle landed yesterday in Miami and the turtle was taken to The Turtle Hospital in the Florida Keys where it continues to recover.
