BOCA RATON, Fla. — A sea turtle was severely injured and had one of its flippers amputated after it was hooked at least six times by fishermen off the South Florida coast, officials say.
The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton posted on Facebook that a turtle named Peter Parker was hooked at the Deerfield Beach Pier on Nov. 16 and rescued by a fisherman.
A medical team said Peter Parker's front flipper was severely entangled in fishing line, he had swallowed more than 12 feet of fishing line, and had several fishing hooks embedded in his body, along with wounds from previous hooks.
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Gumbo Limbo said the turtle had been hooked at least six times and suffered a severe fracture that resulted in one of his flippers being amputated.
While the nature center expects Peter Parker to make a full recovery, it's reminding fishermen to always call for help if you accidentally hook a sea turtle, instead of just cutting the line.
If you hook a turtle or see someone who does, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-3922, or the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center’s Sea Turtle Emergency Hotline at 561-212-8621.
VIDEO OF INJURED TURTLE: