It was a picture-perfect morning on March 14 as a crowd of hundreds gathered at Sombrero Beach to watch two juvenile green sea turtles complete their journey home. Rescued in November off Cudjoe Key, both turtles, later named “Crackle” and “Pop,” were suffering from fibropapillomatosis, a common disease that can cause extreme tumor growth on the turtles. Their four-month rehabilitation at Marathon’s Turtle Hospital included tumor removal surgeries, broad spectrum antibiotics, fluids, vitamins and a healthy diet of mixed seafood and greens.
Photos by LARRY BENVENUTI/Contributed
