Petr Makes Headlines

Last Monday evening I sat down to watch my beloved Pittsburgh Penguins battle the Detroit Redwings in the Stanely Cup Playoffs. Just as the first period was about to start, my phone rang. It was Dr. Kirt. He had just been notified by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission that they had a report of an injured turtle in Boca Raton. I turned off the game and headed towards the beach.

I arrived at the location and was met by the Boca Raton police officer who made the initial call to Florida Fish and Wildlife. He told me that some people on the beach were swimming and saw the turtle swimming in circles near by. They brought it up on the beach, saw that it had fishing line wrapped around its flipper, and called the police. The juvenile green weighed about 35lbs and was transported back to Gumbo Limbo for the evening.

I returned home and turned the TV back on at the beginning of the second period of the hockey game. The Penguins were up 2-0!!! By the end of the final period the Redwings had tied up the game 3-3 and overtime started. Neither team scored in the first over time or the second. Finally in the third overtime at 1 o’clock in the morning Petr Sykora scored to win the game for the Penguins!!! And that is how Petr got his name.

Tuesday afternoon Petr was transported to the Loggerhead Marine Life Center where a veternarian was able to better assess and care for the turtle. The latest update from the Marine Life Center is positive. Petr along with two other dead loggerheads that washed up latter in the week were the focus of a Palm Beach Post Article and a CBS 12 Story.

.

To follow the progress of Petr please visit the Loggerhead Marine Life Center Blog