Sea Turtles "Bulls Bay" and "Mini Ming" Get Released!

South Carolina Aquarium sea turtle patients "Bulls Bay" (65-lb loggerhead) and "Mini Ming" (5-lb green) were medically cleared for release on Tuesday, February 12th and the relay to release them began! As timing would have it, our NC turtle colleagues were planning a release for over 30 sea turtles that had been treated for cold-stunning in various facilities. The Coast Guard Cutter Block Island would be heading for the Gulf Stream on Thursday morning and we were excited to get Bulls Bay and Mini Ming on the boat. The turtles were weighed, measured, tagged and transported to the NC border where Barbara Bergwerf and I met Sarah Finn from NC Wildlife Resources Commission for the hand off. 

Sea Turtle Hospital Intern Joni and I move Bulls Bay into a transport container. Bulls Bay was originally caught in the SCDNR In-Water Research Program's turtle trawls and was not healthy. Finding the turtle early in his illness possibly saved his life.

Mini Ming originally stranded in Mingo Creek on Kiawah Island and was rescued by naturalists from the Night Heron Nature Center. At the time of admission, Mini was the smallest green sea turtle ever admitted into the South Carolina Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital!

Mini Ming, snug in his/her transport container, has just been through the first leg of the transport and ready for part two - the drive to the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores where she would spend the night before being released. 

Sara Finn and I transfer Bulls Bay inside of his container from the Aquarium's husbandry van to the NC Wildlife Commission truck while photographer Barbara Bergwerf documented the move.

Thirty-nine sea turtles were loaded onto US Coast Guard Cutter Block Island Thursday morning and headed for the Gulf Stream. Unfortunately, engine trouble forced the cutter to turn around before the release took place. The turtles were transported to the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and a NOAA facility while a back-up plan was made. Special thanks to the NC Aquarium folks for these photographs!

Fortunately, US Coast Guard Cutter Fort Macon stepped in to save the day! On Friday morning, the sea turtles, including Bulls Bay and Mini Ming, were loaded onto cutter Fort Macon to be transported to the Gulf Stream for release.

Crew from the US Coast Guard Fort Macon, NOAA, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, and staff from NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores get one last photo before the turtles take off.

The South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue's patient numbers are still higher than ever in the past. It was perfect timing to be able to release these two healthy sea turtles so quickly to have breathing room in our small hospital. Although there are 23 sea turtles still under rehabilitative care, pre-release analyses are getting started on several of the patients and we hope to have more ready for release in the coming weeks. Since the waters are still cold off the SC coast, turtles will be transported to areas where they reside in the winter. Local beach releases will take place again when warm spring weather warms our coastal waters. Stay tuned!

We are grateful to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, US Coast Guard, NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, NOAA, and all others that helped with this release. And we are always extremely grateful for those involved in the initial rescue and the help we receive to rehabilitate these threatened and endangered species. Each step in this process is critical and takes many working together to make it happen. THANK YOU ALL!

Kelly Thorvalson
Sea Turtle Rescue Program Manager

Taylor Enjoys A Fish Pop!

Taylor was one of five sea turtles transported to the South Carolina Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital on January 16, 2013. Out of 15 cold-stunned sea turtles transferred from the New England Aquarium, Taylor is the only loggerhead. Since arriving, Taylor has thrived in the hospital and has recently started enjoying a variety of enrichment we offer to our patients. S/he shows the greatest interest in fish pops which are offered once a week. A fish pop is simply fish frozen with water and because it floats at the  water's surface,  it is more challenging to eat. It is also beneficial to work the jaw muscles!

A fish pop!

 

Come see Taylor and 24 more patients on a behind-the-scenes tour!

 

Whitney Daniel

Sea Turtle Biologist

 
 

Amazing Healing of Bristol's Shell Fracture

Bristol was in poor condition when s/he arrived at the South Carolina Aquarium from the Bristol Marina in downtown Charleston. With an extremely low heart rate, carapace fractures, and several broken bones in the front flippers, staff thought it would be a long recovery. Supportive care stabilized the young green sea turtle and the shell wound was flushed and wrapped. Pain medication was also initiated.

In an effort to keep the wound sterile, the carapace around the fracture was cleaned.

Radiographs of Bristol- note the severe breaks in the right humerus and left radius and ulna.

Wounds were flushed well with saline.

Both front flippers were stabilized to limit movement and for the first time in the Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital, with special thanks to Dr. Shane Woolf, a vacuum-assisted wound therapy was used on the shell fracture. By delivering negative pressure at the wound site using a special vacuum and wound dressings, infectious materials were removed from the injured site. The vacuum increases rate granulation tissue formation and speeds healing.

Front flippers were stabilized with cast-like materials.

A little over a month after admission, granulation tissue has formed across the wound.

In addition to this amazing wound vacuum therapy, Mrs. Jennifer Oliverio has offered her expertise to deliver cold laser therapy to our sick and injured sea turtles, including Bristol. This light-based therapy reduces pain and accelerates healing.

In only 2 1/2 months, the result of these therapies and the wonderful care given at the Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital can be seen in the comparison photo below.

The shell fracture comparison of admission (11/13/12) to the current state is striking!

Although this animal has a while to go before the flipper bones are healed enough for release, we would like to send Dr. Shane Woolf and Dr. Jennifer Oliverio our most heartfelt thanks for their donations, both of equipment and time. It is with their help and the help of so many in our community and beyond that we are able to give to give these threatened and endangered species the best chances of survival.

With sincere appreciation,
Kelly Thorvalson
Sea Turtle Rescue Program Manager