SIESTA KEY- A large loggerhead sea turtle that the Sarasota Police Department’s Dive Team rescued last week died Monday afternoon.
The dive team was doing exercises near Big Pass- about a mile off Siesta Key- when an officer noticed the huge loggerhead turtle. The 108 pound animal didn’t dive when it saw the policemen- a natural response to predators- leading officers to realize it was ill.
The turtle, nicknamed ‘Trippi,’ was taken to Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital. It was responsive but lethargic- officials at Mote said its shell was covered in algae, signifying it hadn’t been active in some time.