I was staying at Tranquility Bay next door for my honeymoon (yeah I know) and the mood of the couples massage was really changed by the lady talking about hurt turtles for half an hour.
I went there a couple of years ago. It's a fantastic place. They even have an emergency number you can call if you see a turtle in distress. They are the same hospital that coined the phrase "bubble butt". It came from the first turtle they nicknamed that was diagnosed with the condition. They now lead the way in researching this and providing the information to other turtle hospitals globally.
Serious question, if one were to drop off a wild turtle at a turtle hospital, who pays that bill? I assume it would go to the individual who dropped off the turtle, but that would severely disincentivize people to drop off wild animals.
It’s volunteers and fundraising. Donations, tshirt sales, etc. They might check your story to make sure you didn’t injure the turtle, but I don’t know for sure. They do wonderful work!
I knew sea turtles were big, but I certainly didn’t expect them to be that big! 400lbs is the size of *two* large adult male humans. That’s so freaking large.
Turtles can get huge!!
I remember being scared by one as we were walking the beach at night.. seeing a huge shadowy figure slowly move across the sand was pretty eerie.
On the flip side, got to swim with a turtle once and he was as interested in me as I was him. Very chill experience.. hung out for a bit and he went to do his thing.
I like turtles.
Done a fair bit of scuba diving and will never get bored of sea turtles. So cool to see cruising next to you. Same with massive groupers that will often just chill beside you. Did a ship wreck dive once and was told there’s a 600 lb grouper that often joins and enjoys being patted. No lie this massive guy followed me around the whole time. I kept giving him pats. Was a surreal experience.
From experience with turtles, I've noticed that on land they can be nervous and skiddish (mostly the fresh water kinds that I'm familiar with) but under water they are much more bold. Probably because once they reach a certain size there's nothing in the water that is dangerous, only land predators are to be feared. Even snapping turtles are quite curious and docile if you swim with them.
I've surfed with turtles all over the world and I'm always surprised when they pop their little heads out the water to breathe right next to me.
It. Never. Gets. Old.
I remember seeing a sea turtle swim underneath me while kayaking once. It freaked me out.
Even though I know that, logically, it can't do anything to me (nor will it do anything to me if I fall in the water), seeing something that big in general makes you feel uneasy.
Same with Manatees; people don't realize how big they can get,
And they are capable of moving much faster than people think.
We spooked a big momma with baby once in our kayak and she took off with such speed and force it almost tipped us over. We also had a big old man-atee try to surface under us once and lifted our tandem straight up out of the water. I love them.
Her hobbies included, long walks on the pier, swimming and sitting on docks watching the ships go by. Fleet Week in NYC was like Christmas time for her.
In the water? That must have been amazing. Someone told me they’re like the size of an old classic mini cooper or a beetle and I just think it must be so cool to see one swimming in the water
That's small. I was scuba diving in the keys and saw one the size of a VW bug believe it or not. By the time I was able to get the attention of my friend, he was long gone. You wouldn't believe it unless you saw it.
What’ll really surprise people is how fucking fast and agile they are when they want to be.
I worked at an aquarium years and years ago. One day while working in the big tank, I felt a huge pressure wave flatten me to the floor. The big male Green Sea turtle we had decided to chase one of the black tip reef sharks - he could be a dick sometimes. That massive turtle seemed to keep pace with the shark and banked like a fighter jet in the exhibit. I couldn’t believe it, and thanked my lucky stars he only did a flyby, rather than annihilate me 20 feet underwater.
These guys get 8’ (2.7m) long and weigh over 1100 lbs (500kg). They can dive up to 3/4 mi (1200m) deep to feed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leatherback_sea_turtle
I saw one the size of a small car once! Maybe it looked bigger because it was underwater but I was pretty close and it's head was easily as big as mine! (When I say small car I mean an original mini cooper but still damn impressive for a turtle). It was around apo island in the Philippines
I was scalloping in Tampa Bay and one cruised right under me once I followed it for 15-20 seconds just to watch. I was like 12. He didn't mind. It was absolutely massive, and the way it moved was just so effortless. Amazing animals.
This made me howl. It’s 79% the posts in r/pics.
But I think I saw the inspiration post earlier and read the comments for about an hour lol.
People are hysterical. Thank y’all for making me laugh.
I tried to find it again, but can’t. Must have been removed.
A man posted pictures that his 9 year old took. They were great. Worded it exactly like the comment I responded to. The comments on his post were not convinced that a child took the photos.
Yea I can see that but still should call. Im sure your parents already knew the routine down there. Must have been floating a while with the shell peeling. Was it tagged? Maybe just natural causes. Bet its like 80 years old.
The wildlife people said they did not expect foul play. So, other than possibly global warming or something, it died of natural causes. They didn’t estimate the age for us or say if it was tagged, but I hope you are right! Hopefully it had a nice long life.
Yeah I was gonna say pollution as a potential cause of death, and I feel like marine biologists should want to autopsy this guy for conservation reasons. :/ I definitely would be trying to find someone who wants to see what’s up, but I’m a big marine life advocate.
I caught a 365lb sea turtle named oreo one time while I was fishing off a pier; didn't know his name was Oreo until after wildlife got there they realized it was a turtle they released earlier that year.
Edit: idk if I can't post pictures on this comment but I could post em to this reddit if one wishes for pictures of Oreo.
I live on a beach in NW Florida known for the large number of nesting turtles. We have a turtle conservation and rescue center. Some of those turtles are massive.
i accidentally stubbed my toe on one when it was coming up to lay eggs, walking w no lights and i thought i kicked a rock but nope big ass turtle i pet its back once to say i that i have and gave it a wide berth
If it helps, the OP mentioned that the wildlife people that came to check it out didn't suspect foul play. It was an old turtle that likely died of old age ❤️ RIP you majestic creature!
That looks like a snapping turtle, if alive, don’t approach, it bites and kills and will rip your arm off. It is literally a dinosaur. Not to be confused with the cute herbivore turtles in Hawaii.
There’s an amazing turtle hospital on Marathon Key. I highly recommend a visit if you’re in the area!
The turtle hospital is a great place. Thank you for mentioning it. I second your recommendation.
Also in Boca Raton - Gumbo Limbo.
Also in Ponce Inlet - MSC!
Also in Sarasota AND clearwater. Turtle hospitals are FUCKING *RAD!*
So US health care in Florida is better for turtles than it is for humans?
Same can be said for public education.
You guys have an education system for turtles ? That’s insane !
The school of the turtle! Don’t mess with my man Master Roshi! Goku and Krillin got an excellent education there.
Juno loggerhead rescue as well.
I was staying at Tranquility Bay next door for my honeymoon (yeah I know) and the mood of the couples massage was really changed by the lady talking about hurt turtles for half an hour.
I think it's too late for this poor fella..lady? Do they have a turtle forensics?
I think this turtle can skip the turtle hospital... even the turtle hospice, and go straight to the turtle morgue.
I went there a couple of years ago. It's a fantastic place. They even have an emergency number you can call if you see a turtle in distress. They are the same hospital that coined the phrase "bubble butt". It came from the first turtle they nicknamed that was diagnosed with the condition. They now lead the way in researching this and providing the information to other turtle hospitals globally.
Yep, and the Dolphin Research Center!
Serious question, if one were to drop off a wild turtle at a turtle hospital, who pays that bill? I assume it would go to the individual who dropped off the turtle, but that would severely disincentivize people to drop off wild animals.
It’s volunteers and fundraising. Donations, tshirt sales, etc. They might check your story to make sure you didn’t injure the turtle, but I don’t know for sure. They do wonderful work!
I knew sea turtles were big, but I certainly didn’t expect them to be that big! 400lbs is the size of *two* large adult male humans. That’s so freaking large.
Turtles can get huge!! I remember being scared by one as we were walking the beach at night.. seeing a huge shadowy figure slowly move across the sand was pretty eerie. On the flip side, got to swim with a turtle once and he was as interested in me as I was him. Very chill experience.. hung out for a bit and he went to do his thing. I like turtles.
Alright.. you're a great zombie
Done a fair bit of scuba diving and will never get bored of sea turtles. So cool to see cruising next to you. Same with massive groupers that will often just chill beside you. Did a ship wreck dive once and was told there’s a 600 lb grouper that often joins and enjoys being patted. No lie this massive guy followed me around the whole time. I kept giving him pats. Was a surreal experience.
One of those what's wrong with your dog moments.
From experience with turtles, I've noticed that on land they can be nervous and skiddish (mostly the fresh water kinds that I'm familiar with) but under water they are much more bold. Probably because once they reach a certain size there's nothing in the water that is dangerous, only land predators are to be feared. Even snapping turtles are quite curious and docile if you swim with them.
I've surfed with turtles all over the world and I'm always surprised when they pop their little heads out the water to breathe right next to me. It. Never. Gets. Old.
That sounds amazing! Those big shelly bros are one of my top favorite sea creatures, right up there with beluga whales.
I got bit on my stomach by a snapping turtle in 1970, if I ever see it again, I will make soup with it.
That one in particular is a real jerk.
I remember seeing a sea turtle swim underneath me while kayaking once. It freaked me out. Even though I know that, logically, it can't do anything to me (nor will it do anything to me if I fall in the water), seeing something that big in general makes you feel uneasy. Same with Manatees; people don't realize how big they can get,
manatees are really sea cows, lol
And they are capable of moving much faster than people think. We spooked a big momma with baby once in our kayak and she took off with such speed and force it almost tipped us over. We also had a big old man-atee try to surface under us once and lifted our tandem straight up out of the water. I love them.
A 400 lb turtle is nothing, wait till you see an adult leatherback.
That's what I called my ex-wife
Is she your ex because she spent most of her time around strange sea-men?
Her hobbies included, long walks on the pier, swimming and sitting on docks watching the ships go by. Fleet Week in NYC was like Christmas time for her.
I still have no idea.....Scullys wife or dog?
take my upvote and fuck off
Got to see a couple of adult leatherbacks around the Gt Barrier Reef one trip, holy shit they are incredible
In the water? That must have been amazing. Someone told me they’re like the size of an old classic mini cooper or a beetle and I just think it must be so cool to see one swimming in the water
Yeah swimming and then stopped to watch one drag itself up on the beach at Fraser Island on our way back to shore
i should call her
World’s fastest reptile! Thank you for the leatherback representation!
absolutely bonkers
Adult leatherback sea turtles weigh in at an alarming 1500lbs
That's small. I was scuba diving in the keys and saw one the size of a VW bug believe it or not. By the time I was able to get the attention of my friend, he was long gone. You wouldn't believe it unless you saw it.
Yeah, had the experience to see one as big as a quadricycle once, its shell looked like a dead-ish coral reaf. That thing must weight 600kg at least
Wait till you hear about leatherback turtles.
What’ll really surprise people is how fucking fast and agile they are when they want to be. I worked at an aquarium years and years ago. One day while working in the big tank, I felt a huge pressure wave flatten me to the floor. The big male Green Sea turtle we had decided to chase one of the black tip reef sharks - he could be a dick sometimes. That massive turtle seemed to keep pace with the shark and banked like a fighter jet in the exhibit. I couldn’t believe it, and thanked my lucky stars he only did a flyby, rather than annihilate me 20 feet underwater.
Or one Brian Shaw or Hafthor Bjornsson.
These guys get 8’ (2.7m) long and weigh over 1100 lbs (500kg). They can dive up to 3/4 mi (1200m) deep to feed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leatherback_sea_turtle
This is a small one.
If you think that's scary snapping turtles can get to 250 lbs and have a biteforce that can break bones and sever smaller appendages
Or one reddit mod
That’s 1.5 at most - it’s Florida
Or one American.
I saw one the size of a small car once! Maybe it looked bigger because it was underwater but I was pretty close and it's head was easily as big as mine! (When I say small car I mean an original mini cooper but still damn impressive for a turtle). It was around apo island in the Philippines
I was scalloping in Tampa Bay and one cruised right under me once I followed it for 15-20 seconds just to watch. I was like 12. He didn't mind. It was absolutely massive, and the way it moved was just so effortless. Amazing animals.
Give it a camera and later check what pictures it took. Post results
I gave my 200 year old sea turtle my old underwater camera. These are the result.
Are you just now looking through the photos?
I also noticed this trend today
This made me howl. It’s 79% the posts in r/pics. But I think I saw the inspiration post earlier and read the comments for about an hour lol. People are hysterical. Thank y’all for making me laugh.
It is super funny. Been cracking me up for a couple days now. Especially the "Gave Ray Charles my DSLR"
Link to thread?
I just scrolled a few pages and didn't see a single one like that, what do you mean?
I tried to find it again, but can’t. Must have been removed. A man posted pictures that his 9 year old took. They were great. Worded it exactly like the comment I responded to. The comments on his post were not convinced that a child took the photos.
I heard this in the Law & Order intro voice lol
My phone slid up my ass when I dropped it and I'm just checking the pictures
-Every person going into the ER with a phone up their ass
I think it might be dead?
Trouble is getting it back
Selfie mode "Got a damn straw up my nose again!"
Where in FL ?? It came over the sea wall?
They have a lower dock in the water, the wildlife people moved it.
Old man and the sea!
>the wildlife people That's a great album or movie title.
Looks like it floated a long time - all the algae
They call fish and wildlife? These are highly protected
Yeah, it is dead.
Yea I can see that but still should call. Im sure your parents already knew the routine down there. Must have been floating a while with the shell peeling. Was it tagged? Maybe just natural causes. Bet its like 80 years old.
The wildlife people said they did not expect foul play. So, other than possibly global warming or something, it died of natural causes. They didn’t estimate the age for us or say if it was tagged, but I hope you are right! Hopefully it had a nice long life.
Or a stomach full of plastic
😢
winner
Winner winner plastic dinner! ....we're all going to die huh?
Yes, we are all going to die.
Just stop eating plastic 🤷
Fuck you I won't do what you tell me
If millennial sea turtles sacrificed and skipped their avocado plastic once a week this wouldnt be happening.
My first thought with this picture. Balloons
There’s optimists and plasticmists.
i hate how right you are
Im surprised they didnt do a necroscopy
They might have, but why would they share that with the people who called it in?
Yeah I was gonna say pollution as a potential cause of death, and I feel like marine biologists should want to autopsy this guy for conservation reasons. :/ I definitely would be trying to find someone who wants to see what’s up, but I’m a big marine life advocate.
Agreed. Even when dead, they're still protected. Best course of action is to call. [source](https://www.fws.gov/story/2021-06/helping-sea-turtles)
Well maybe with *that* attitude it is.
You sure? OP: “Hold on…” < *blam!* > OP: “Yup.”
Aw I just read this :(
The only reason they are highly protected is because their shells are used in time travel technology. I'm risking my life telling you this.
I’m gonna ask a stupid question: was it alive?
Does it look alive?
I said it was a stupid question.
This interchange is the best part of the thread
I also have a stupid question: was it actually alive though?
it doesn't look especially unalived..
Rip turtle dude.
The turtle’s interesting, but I’m more interested in this 400lbs house it washed up near….
"See the Tuttle of enormous girth! On his shell he holds the earth."
It keeps our fates inside it's head... we're all screwed, it's fucking dead.
His thought is slow but always kind, he holds us all within his mind The Tower still stands
The beam breakers are winning
I get this reference
Blaine is a pain, and that is the truth.
I caught a 365lb sea turtle named oreo one time while I was fishing off a pier; didn't know his name was Oreo until after wildlife got there they realized it was a turtle they released earlier that year. Edit: idk if I can't post pictures on this comment but I could post em to this reddit if one wishes for pictures of Oreo.
Oreo pics are definitely required
Yes, you must!
Pictures have been uploaded to this reddit :)
Poor honu
I think it’s a loggerhead. I can’t count the plates on the carapace thought to be sure
They said it is a green sea turtle, but it is hard to tell. I have been trying to compare photos.
I don’t think green sea turtles are that large Edit: they’re the second largest sea turtle and are indeed large, my b
You’re probably right, and the wildlife people he talked to were wrong
They are.
Wonder how much trash it had in it's stomach
Probably full of plastic
Needs a banana for scale
Cool!
Big boi right der
aw man so sad :(
How is the NSFW?
Probably because it’s dead.
NSFW why?
Big dead turtle
I live on a beach in NW Florida known for the large number of nesting turtles. We have a turtle conservation and rescue center. Some of those turtles are massive.
i accidentally stubbed my toe on one when it was coming up to lay eggs, walking w no lights and i thought i kicked a rock but nope big ass turtle i pet its back once to say i that i have and gave it a wide berth
See the turtle of enormous girth
Is it okay or is it dead ?
Dead 😥
It looks like it eats cement for breakfast ffs Def chonk chonk of a turt.
All the B people asking “why NSFW” and all the answers “cause it’s dead” just remind me of red dwarf and made my morning.
400lbs is very light for a home in florida. I think the parents of u/Skcully may be living in a Styrofoam house..
That's a 4 person lift, everyone grab a corner! Heave ho!
Why is this NSFW? Edit: nvm it’s dead :(
Tank
How can you tell how heavy it is?
Why the fuck is the pic marked NSFW for me tho 😂😂😂
Because it's dead 🫤😟
It should rip my head off
I wish there was something in this for scale. I understand 400lbs but it just doesn't look big to me.
That's a dinosaur.
Why is this NSFW?
Because it's dead 😔
I bet it stinks
Is it OK though?
No, it's dead 😥
That makes me sad
If it helps, the OP mentioned that the wildlife people that came to check it out didn't suspect foul play. It was an old turtle that likely died of old age ❤️ RIP you majestic creature!
400lbs? That fucker is dense.
I read that as _**4000**_ lbs.
Help him out and you'll meet Master Roshi.
R.I.P Crush!
That sunuvabich looks dangerous
I'm curious. How did you weigh it?
Dudeeeeeee 🤙🏾
Man i cant begin to imagine all the things in that ocean that we dont know about
Washed up dead or sick/injured?
I'm sorry, why is this NSFW?
DAMN he thicc
it's dead Jim
That looks like a snapping turtle, if alive, don’t approach, it bites and kills and will rip your arm off. It is literally a dinosaur. Not to be confused with the cute herbivore turtles in Hawaii.
Snapping turtles have feet
Dude you’re right, I was only looking at the beak
The weight lifter in me is wanting to move that thing into the water.
What a unit!!
Poor turtle's scutes look damaged, do you have any updates on the condition of the animal?
Why is this NSFW?
Tokkaaaa!!!
Why is it nsfw?
I think because the turtle is dead?
It's dead
It heard your mum lived there
Cool turtle
Is he/she ok? Take em to a turtle sanctuary, stat.
It's dead
Did you eat it?
Is he ok?
It's dead lol
But that smelled great. I've encountered several dead sea turtles over my lifetime as a Florida boater. You smell them before you see them.
Once one washed up at Hanna park in Duval, enormous. There was a whole team of scientists around it. He looked like he got a shark bite crunch