New Stranding Moves from Intensive Care Ward

The severely debilitated loggerhead admitted to the South Carolina Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital on May 20th was barely alive when it first arrived. The young adult sea turtle affectionately named "Briar" after the stranding location in Myrtle Beach, received intensive care for 5 days. This consistent, supportive care in a quiet out-of-the-way tank helped this turtle make it through the roughest part of rehab.



Shane and I prepared to transfer the turtle from the SCDNR truck.

Briar was so lethargic that she could not hold her head up during the transfer. Jenna Cormany of SCDNR helped to stabilize her head.

Dr. Boylan and crew moved Briar by elevator to the Animal Medical Facility on the Aquarium's first floor.

Emaciation and a heavy barnacle load are typical external signs of a severely debilitated sea turtle. The internal medical problems are much more numerous. 

In addition to being extremely sick, Briar has what looks like an old break in the front right flipper causing it to "hook".

Weights and measurements were taken and neck was "sterilized" with betadine to pull blood.

Once in the Animal Medical Facility, Briar received a basic health assessment which would guide Dr. Boylan's treatment plan. This assessment included obtaining a heart rate, evaluating blood work, a physical examination and getting weights and measurements. The heart rate was extremely low at 6 beats per minute and blood work was also extremely poor with a glucose of 1, hematocrit level of 7%, and total solids 2.9. These numbers validate what we thought when we first saw the turtle - the animal was barely alive.




The heart rate is obtained by dopplar, pressing the probe to the soft tissue between the head and neck.

Fluid therapy is an important part of supportive care given to the patients in our Sea Turtle Hospital. Briar received Hetastartch IV as well as 5% Dextrose and Normosol subcutaneously (photos above).



The video below was taken just after Briar was put in a tank of shallow water. 

Huge thanks to turtle rescuer, Brett and North Myrtle Beach turtle lady extraordinaire, Linda Mataya who drove the turtle to Georgetown, and to SCDNR for coordinating and finishing the transport. Also to our extraordinary staff, volunteers and interns that make up the Sea Turtle Rescue Team at the Aquarium. This turtle now has a good prognosis because of your efforts!

Kelly Thorvalson
Sea Turtle Rescue Program Manager

North Myrtle gets released after 2 years of treatment

The 100-pound loggerhead sea turtle, North Myrtle, was released Tuesday, August 24 after being treated for just under 2 years by the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program. North Myrtle was admitted with 7 fractures in the carapace (top shell) on September 3, 2008. North Myrtle was also suffering from pneumonia upon arrival at the Sea Turtle Hospital and was in critical condition for over a month. Below is a photo of North Myrtle a week after being admitted.

About four months after arriving at the Sea Turtle Hospital, the dead bone had finally all come out and healthy granulation tissue replaced open wounds. Keratin (the brown layer over the bone) also started its slow growth which would eventually provide stability and a protective barrier to the fractures.

It took almost 2 years for the carapace to stabilize enough for the turtle to be released but that day finally arrived on August 24th. North Myrtle was released from the Aquarium's Scout boat a few miles off the coast of Folly Beach.

North Myrtle was not only a difficult medical case to treat but "she" was a difficult turtle to take care of - period. She was picky about the types of fish she ate, messy when she decided to eat, and consistently splashed her caregivers and anyone else that came close to her tank. Not only that, but staff and volunteers were ALWAYS having to squeegee water from around her tank to keep the area safe to walk. For all of these reasons and simply because she defied death, North Myrtle has left a lasting impression on any and all that met her. We wish her the best in that big (and dangerous) ocean out there.

Thank you to all that have been a part of making this animal's release a reality!
Kelly

New patients admitted into Turtle Hospital

I am constantly amazed at the resilience of sea turtles. The last two patients to be admitted into the Turtle Hospital have such extensive injuries that I have to wonder how they survive. The short answer may be that they are reptiles. A mammal would very rarely survive these injuries. But even with resilience on their side, these young sea turtles will require a great deal of time, care and medication if they are going to have a chance of surviving.

Myrtle, a small Kemp’s ridley with a major skull fracture (most likely caused by a boat propeller) arrived from Myrtle Beach on August 26. Within an hour of the turtle’s arrival, Dr. Shane Boylan, South Carolina Aquarium Veterinarian, wired the upper jaw back together with the turtle fully anesthetized. Remarkably, the turtle made it through surgery and is still alive today. Treatment is ongoing for this little guy and we can only hope that a head injury such as this one can heal without complications. Only time will tell.

North Myrtle, a juvenile loggerhead that arrived only a week after Myrtle, is suffering from a crushed carapace and pneumonia. The carapace has 6 major fractures and many bone fragments that will eventually die off. Pneumonia in sea turtles, especially in later stages, is very difficult to treat. Hours are spent each day with this animal doing wound treatment and antibiotic nebulization. We hope that this intense medical care will rein in the end.

Be sure to check the Turtle Hospital webpage for regular updates on these new patients and all of the turtles in rehabilitation. And in case you didn't know it, sick and injured sea turtles love having visitors, so come see them for yourself by taking a hospital tour!

Kelly Thorvalson