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Researchers finish green sea turtle study in Florida Keys

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Posted at 9:39 AM, Jun 13, 2019
and last updated 2019-06-13 09:39:00-04

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BIG PINE KEY, Fla. (AP) — Marine researchers have finished a 10-day assessment of the iconic green sea turtle in the Florida Keys.

The study completed Wednesday examined where green turtles live and feed in Keys waters and evaluated green turtles' general health.

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Data acquired from 26 green turtles included measurements, skin biopsies and bloodwork. All were released except for three that are being treated at the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital for Fibropapillomatosis, a herpes-like virus that affects turtles worldwide.

The effort was a collaboration between the Turtle Hospital, other marine research groups and Force Blue, a non-profit that aids returning combat veterans through mission-focused programs to help the world's ocean environment.

Green sea turtles in the southern Atlantic Ocean are classified as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.