STARKVILLE, Miss. ( WJTV ) – A Kemp’s ridley sea turtle had its third successful visit for specialized care at Mississippi State University’s (MSU) College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM).

The turtle, also known as Toast Malone, recently arrived with a fishhook lodged in its stomach. Officials said MSU Professor and CVM Internist Dr. John Thomason performed an endoscopy to successfully remove the fishhook.

According to MSU, the veterinary college has seen this specific sea turtle before, performing similar procedures and microchipping the sea turtle to track and monitor its recovery. The efforts are part of the university-based Global Center for Aquatic Health and Food Security (GCAHFS) and its Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Health Program.

Thomason said turtles have great geographic navigational skills, and they are likely to return to familiar areas, despite hazards they may encounter.

“We are giving these animals the opportunity to recover and thrive. It is inevitable that humans are going to come in contact with marine animals, and it should be our responsibility to help these animals if they need us—especially if we move into their environment,” he said.

Along with Toast, a loggerhead sea turtle known as Mudpie also came to MSU with two fishhooks. Both were successfully removed by Thomason, additional CVM faculty and fourth-year veterinary students.

Both turtles left the Starkville-based veterinary hospital the same day as the procedure and returned to the care of GCAHFS faculty and staff on the Mississippi coast for further rehabilitation.

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