Marie Simpson, a sea turtle rehabilitation specialist, feeds lettuce to OD, a 320-pound green sea turtle at the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Fla., on Sunday, July 21. OD was rescued off the Florida Keys almost five years ago and cannot be released in the wild because of a collapsed lung. The reptile is being flown to Las Vegas via FedEx to live out the rest of his expected 100-year-life in the Shark Reef Aquarium at the Mandalay Bay resort. Photo by Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau
OD the Sea Turtle
Staff at the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital load OD, a 320-pound green sea turtle, into a golf cart so it can be moved to an examination room Wednesday, July 24, 2013. Because the turtle cannot be released due to an irreparable collapsed lung, on Thursday, July 25, it is to be flown via FedEx to Las Vegas to live out its life at the The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Resort and Casino. (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau)
OD the sea turtle
Staff at the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital scrub OD, a 320-pound green sea turtle, to remove algae Wednesday, July 24, 2013, preparing it for a FedEx flight to Las Vegas early Thursday, July 25. OD cannot be released due to a irreparable collapsed lung and is to live out its life at the The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Resort and Casino. (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau)
OD
In this photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, OD, a 320-pound green sea turtle, is scrubbed to remove algae Wednesday, July 24, 2013, at the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Fla. The bath was part of preparations for a FedEx flight to Las Vegas early Thursday, July 25. OD cannot be released due to a irreparable collapsed lung and is to live out its life at the The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Resort and Casino. (AP Photo/Florida Keys News Bureau, Andy Newman)
OD the sea turtle
Richie Moretti, right, founder of the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital soothes OD, a 320-pound green sea turtle, as it is measured and examined at the hospital in Marathon, Fla. Because of an irreparable collapsed lung, the turtle cannot be released into the wild. It is scheduled to be loaded on a FedEx flight to Las Vegas early Thursday, July 25, and live out its life at the The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Resort and Casino. (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau)
OD the sea turtle
Bette Zirkelbach, left, and Richie Moretti, observe OD, a 320-pound green sea turtle, following an examination at the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Fla. Because of an irreparable collapsed lung, the reptile cannot be released into the wild. It is set to be loaded on a FedEx flight to Las Vegas early Thursday, July 25, and live out its life at the The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Resort and Casino. (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau)
OD the sea tutle
OD, a 320-pound green sea turtle lifts his head to breathe in a transition pool at the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital Wednesday, July 24, 2013, in Marathon, Fla. Because of an irreparable collapsed lung, the turtle cannot be released into the wild. It is set to be loaded on a FedEx flight to Las Vegas early Thursday, July 25, and live out its life at the The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Resort and Casino. (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Keys Turtle To Vegas
Bette Zirkelbach, left, and Richie Moretti, of the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital check on OD, a green sea turtle, before it is loaded on a FedEx aircraft Thursday, July 25, 2013, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The turtle has been cared for in the Keys for the past five years, but because it cannot be released due to a collapsed lung, the reptile is being flown to Las Vegas to live at The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Resort and Casino. (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Keys Turtle To Vegas
Richie Moretti, left, and Bette Zirkelbach of the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital check on OD, a green sea turtle, just before it is loaded on a FedEx A-300 aircraft Thursday, July 25, 2013, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The turtle has been cared for in the Keys for the past five years, but because it cannot be released due to a collapsed lung, the reptile is being flown to Las Vegas to live at The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Resort and Casino. (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau)
OD the turtle ready for takeoff
The crate carrying OD, the Florida Keys green sea turle, is loaded on a FedEx A300 Thursday, July 25, 2013, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Because the turtle cannot be released due to an irreparable collapsed lung, the turtle is being flown to Las Vegas to live out its life at the The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Resort and Casino. (Photo by Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Turtle Takeoff
The FedEx A300, carrying OD the Florida Keys green sea turtle and Turtle Hospital founder Richie Moretti and manager Bette Zirkelbach, takes off and heads to Memphis. From there, the contingent will be transferred to another plane and head to Las Vegas, OD's new home at The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Resort and Casino. Photo by Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau
OD the turtle
OD, a green sea turtle swims in a husbandry tank Thursday, July 25, 2013, at The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Thursday, the turtle was shipped some 2,400-miles, via FedEx, from the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital where it had been cared for for almost five years. The reptile can't be released because of a irreparable collapsed lung and is to live out its life in the Vegas aquarium's 1.3-million-gallon exhibition tank. (Darrin Bush/Las Vegas News Bureau)