Sea Turtle Release: PHOTO BLOG

The Aquarium's Sea Turtle Rescue Program staff have been so busy with several new patients that we haven't been able to post photos from the May 23rd release on the Isle of Palms! It was an amazing release and we are thankful for everyone that helped and that came out to see it. We are currently working on a mini-blog series about the new patients that will start towards the end of the week. We are also in the process of analyzing several sea turtles for release so we hope to be posting release information soon, as well. In the meantime, enjoy the May 23rd release photos!

Birdie

This juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle was rescued near Bird Key off of Folly Beach, SC. S/he was badly entangled in monofilament fishing line and would not have fared well if a local fisherman had not come to the rescue! Read more about Birdie's admission here. Birdie was released by Sea Turtle Rescue Program volunteer/photographer, Barbara Bergwerf. 

Barney and McCann

These two juvenile green sea turtles were cold-stunned off of the New England coast in late November and were of the 18 cold-stuns admitted into the Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital this past winter. If these beautiful little sea turtles grow to full size, they could be over 300 pounds! Volunteers Bev Ballow and Sherry Fox released these little guys.

Manteo

Dr. Boyland and I released Mantgeo, one of three loggerheads to be admitted from the North Carolina cold-stun season this winter. Although it took some time for Manteo to begin eating and behaving normally after the illness, s/he is one feisty turtle now! 

Taylor

This juvenile loggerhead was flown in by private pilot Michael Taylor in January of 2013 and was one of the later cold stunned sea turtles from New England. Released by volunteer Jackie Huffman and spring intern Joni Vaughn, Taylor wasted no time getting to the water!

Huge thanks to everyone who helped with the rescue, transport, rehabilitation and release of these 5 sea turtles. This release brings the South Carolina Aquarium to 112 sea turtles releases to date.  The hospital webpage has a full listing of all patients in our Sea Turtle Hospital as well as those released. Periodic updates are posted to these pages so you can follow the rehabilitation of them all!

All the best,

Kelly Thorvalson

Sea Turtle Rescue Program Manager

First Beach Release of 2013 on May 23rd at Isle of Palms County Park!

In partnership with the SC Department of Natural Resources and Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission, the South Carolina Aquarium will be releasing 5 rehabilitated sea turtles at the Isle of Palms County Park on May 23rd at 4 pm. The public is invited to watch as a Kemp’s ridley, 2 loggerheads and 2 green sea turtles rejoin sea turtle populations in the Atlantic Ocean.  County Park parking fees apply and carpooling is strongly encouraged as traffic will be heavy into the park.

Birdie
Birdie is a Kemp's ridley from South Carolina (Bird Key) that was found by a fisherman entangled in monofilament fishing line. We are grateful to so many boaters and fishermen that find these sick and injured animals in the water and bring them to safety.

 

Birdie had monofilament entangled around the neck and left front and rear flippers.

The worst of the entanglements was the left knee. The fishing line had wrapped multiple times around the joint, cutting deeply into the skin.

Had the fisherman not found the turtle when he did, Birdie may have lost the rear flipper and ultimately his life. Birdie has now fully recovered and his limbs are in great condition!

Manteo
Manteo, a loggerhead, was one of almost 80 sea turtles that cold-stunned off the North Carolina coast this past winter. In an effort to help NC facilities that were overrun with patients, Manteo was one of three loggerheads to be admitted to the South Carolina Aquarium and is the last of the three to be released.

Profile shot of the lethargic, cold-stunned Manteo.

A healthy Manteo getting weighed in our Sea Turtle Hospital.

Taylor
Taylor is a loggerhead that cold-stunned off the New England coast this past winter. When the New England Aquarium was swamped with cold-stunned sea turtles this winter, Taylor and several Kemp's ridleys flew first class to Charleston in a Cheyenne Turbo Prop donated by owner and pilot Michael Taylor. When Taylor was first admitted, he had a heart rate of only 8 beats per minute and was very ill. It took him a month to begin eating.

Taylor right off the plane.

Taylor had many lesions and cuts on the soft tissue and plastron. We are thrilled that he has made a full recovery and is ready for release!

Barney and McCann
These two juvenile green sea turtles cold-stunned off the New England coast in December 2012 and were flown to the South Carolina Aquarium by pilot Gary Davis of Davis Air, Inc. and copilot Neal McCann. These once cold, lethargic sea turtles have transformed into strong, wild animals. We love seeing how feisty the turtles get when they are feeling better!



Barney just after he arrived at the South Carolina Aquarium.



Barney (left) and tankmate, Bristol (right), in the Aquairum's Sea Turtle Hospital. The greens have such beautiful starburst pattens on their scutes! 

McCann, named after co-pilot Neal McCann, has made a quick recovery.

Several months after arrival, a feisty McCann is taken out of his tank for weights and measurements.

 Tips for having a great sea turtle release:

• Come out as early as possible (as much as 2 hours early) so you get a good parking place and a good spot on the ropes. The beach is a wonderful place to be!
• Plan to pay for County Park parking fees.
• The releases are usually very well attended and traffic gets very heavy. Carpool to lessen the traffic coming onto the Isle of Palms and into the County Park. 
• Look for people wearing yellow Sea Turtle Rescue shirts and ask lots of questions about the program and turtles being released.
• Bring water in a reusable water bottle.
• Bring a camera and take lots of photos!

We hope to see you there!

Kelly Thorvalson

Sea Turtle Rescue Program Manager

May 18 sea turtle release photo blog

The threatenening rain held off for an amazing release of two loggerheads, Hamlin Creek and Jammer, on Friday, May 18th. What a perfect way to celebrate Endangered Species Day!

Hamlin Creek

Sea Turtle Hospital staff Whitney Daniel and Christi Hughes, release Hamlin Creek...

...in front of a large, enthusiastic crowd and under a grey sky.

Once Hamlin Creek hit the beach, there was no time wasted getting to deeper water.

Elly and Simmons were on the dock they day their family rescued Hamlin Creek last summer. So happy you girls were able to make it out for Hamlin's return to sea!

Jammer

Jammer was released by Ann Graham, Fire Chief on Isle of Palms who helped rescue Jammer from the beach a year ago, and Bobby Ross, long time General Manager of Windjammer Beach Bar (that Jammer is named after) where the Jammin for Jammer fundraiser was held in fall 2009. Look for another Jammin for Jammer at the Windjammer this fall!

 Jammer took off quickly but had the crowd laughing at his 360 degree turn before making his way into the water. Goodbye Jammer...

...and good luck!

Huge thanks to all who have been part of the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of these amazing sea turtles. They have touched the hearts of us all.

Kelly Thorvalson

New loggerhead stranding from IOP still hanging on

On Monday morning, the South Carolina Aquarium received its second stranding of the 2011 season - a severely debilitated loggerhead with a barnacle load greater than ever seen in the facility. The turtle's lethargic state (it was most likely floating in the ocean for quite some time) is what causes the heavy barnacle load.

The loggerhead named Jammer, washed up near the fishing pier on front beach Isle of Palms, SC, just blocks from the popular Windjammer beach club that s/he is named after. This iconic venue has been a local favorite for decades, operating on the island since 1972...even before sea turtles were put on the endangered species list. SCDNR responded to the live stranding and Island Turtle Team members Mary Pringle and Bev Ballow, pulled the turtle from the surf to the safety of the DNR transport vehicle.Upon arrival at the Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital, weights and measurements were taken and diagnostic tests were performed. The heart rate of a healthy sea turtle is ~30 beats per minute (bpm) but this turtle's heart rate was only 7 bpm, a condition called bradycardia. The turtle is also severely emaciated and dehydrated. As expected, the turtle had very low blood glucose and blood protein levels but the hematocrit (percentage of red blood cells in the blood) was actually close to normal. Sea turtles in this debilitated state are usually severely anemic with a very low hematocrit level, so although puzzled by the result, hospital staff was thrilled to get it.
Treatments include oxygen, fluid therapy, vitamins, and antibiotic injections. After 24 hours of treatment, the turtles heart rate had risen to 24 bpm and respirations were stronger. The prognosis is guarded on this animal but we are doing all we possibly can to save it!

Huge thanks to all involved in this rescue!
Kelly