The Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital Blog Has Moved!

The South Carolina Aquarium has a beautiful new website including a new blog! The new blog will have plenty of sea turtle updates and medical cases but will also have information on upcoming events and programs at the Aquarium. Be sure to check it out! When are on the homepage, click on the blog link to see all of the most recent posts. To refine your search to sea turtles, just click on Sea Turtle Rescue Program.

Thanks for being such dedicated readers of the South Carolina Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital blog!

Update on our Cold-Stunned Kemp's Ridleys

Our Sea Turtle Hospital is still caring for twelve endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles that were flown to South Carolina to complete their rehabilitation after stranding in Massachussets this winter. (Blogs detailing the arrival of these turtles can be found here and here.) These ridleys received excellent inital treatment from the New England Aquarium Marine Animal Rescue Program and, as such, arrived at our hospital in stable condition with no major issues.

DAVIS

This 9-pound Kemp's ridley has struggled to recover from cold-stunning in Massachussets last November. X-rays performed in January revealed lung fields that looked somewhat compromised (the normally black lung fields were "cloudy" and hard to see), so a second antibiotic was administered to prevent severe pneumonia. Iron injections were also necessary to combat anemia (PCV=18).



While you probably won't see the issue is this radiograph with Davis' lungs, you can see evidence of the bone deformation present on Davis' shell.

Compare this photo with the one above to see how Davis' shell deformity looks both on the x-ray and in real life. This ridley is very easy to distinguish from the others!

On a good note, Davis is currently off medications and seems to be recovering well. Check out his hospital page here.


Davis on March 7th, 2013.

CAPE COD

This feisty sea turtle stranded in Sandwich, Massachussets, and weighed less than four pounds upon arrival to our facility. Regular physical examinations, which include obtaining weights and measurements, are important to assess the health of these animals, to adjust their diets based on body condition, and are also a great tool for catching potential health issues early.

Cape Cod receives a physical examination.

In the upper right corner of this x-ray, you can see the "finger bones," or phalanges, in Cape Cod's right front flipper. The joint circled in red is beginning to deteriorate and will need to be closely monitored.

Kemp's ridleys are prone to bone issues like we are seeing in Cape Cod. S/he will remain in our care until the bone lysis stabilizes.

SAINT

This endearingly small ridley quickly became a staff favorite. Although thin and weighing only 2.9 pounds at admission, Saint needed only a quality diet and antibiotics to improve his health.



Saint's plastron was bruised and abraded upon arrival in December 2012.

Our veterinarian, Dr. Shane Boylan, is currently reviewing this turtle's blood work and radiographs to see if Saint can be medically cleared and released back into the ocean in the near future.



Saint is an active swimmer and seems to appreciate his first class accommodations (i.e. tank space with a viewing window).

Bring your family to visit all 23 sea turtles currently recuperating in our Sea Turtle Hospital and wish them well before they return to the Atlantic Ocean later this year. Spring break is the perfect time to see these amazing creatures on one of our behind-the-scenes tours, an exciting and educational experience for all. Our ridleys look forward to meeting you!

Christi Hughes

Sea Turtle Biologist

2 loggerheads to be released Friday, May 18

In partnership with the SC Department of Natural Resources and Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission, two sub-adult loggerhead sea turtles, Jammer and Hamlin Creek, will be released at the Isle of Palms County Park on Friday, May18 at 3pm. Both sea turtles were rescued from the Isle of Palms last spring/summer in critical condition and have been recuperating in the Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital.

With an average cost per day of $34, medical expenses for these two turtles alone have reached over $26,000. It is this reason that Jammer's namesake, the Windjammer, and the IOP Neighborhood Association raised funds last fall for the Sea Turtle Rescue Program. We are hoping to celebrate the release of Jammer and Hamlin Creek at the Windjammer following Friday's release. Stay tuned for details!

Jammer was admitted on April 25, 2011, truly on deaths door and his recovery has been simply amazing! To learn more about Jammer's recovery, read the case history and enjoy past blogs.

comparison photo of Jammer

Hamlin Creek was rescued from Hamlin Creek behind the IOP pm June 12, 2011 suffering from an advanced skin infection that took the lives of many sea turtles last year. We are thrilled that Hamlin survived this terrible condition and is now ready to be released. To learn more about Hamlin's recovery, read the case history and enjoy past blogs.

comparison photo of Hamlin Creek

Huge thanks to all the folks involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of these sea turtles! If you to attend the release, remember that beach traffic may be heavy so be sure to carpool and ARRIVE EARLY. County Park parking fees will apply. Hope to see you there!

Kelly Thorvalson
Sea Turtle Rescue Program Manager

Team Tortuga partners with Menchie's to save sea turtles!

Team Tortuga and Menchie's Frozen Yogurt are working together to raise awareness and funds for sea turtle this entire weekend. Bring this flier to Menchie's in Belle Hall and 20% of sales will be donated to Team Tortuga's efforts. To speak with the East Cooper Montessori kids that make up Team Tortuga and enjoy turtle crafts and face painting, visit Menchie's from 12-4pm today (Saturday, 4/28). Please forward the flier to your friends and family!

Help Montessori students and Cinebarre support sea turtle conservation

Students from East Cooper Montessori Charter School are inviting the public to the Cinebarre in Mount Pleasant this Thursday, March 8^th to watch a wonderful film about sea turtles for only $5! Not only will you learn more about these ancient creatures, but you’ll be helping raise money for sick and injured sea turtles that strand along the SC coast. Thanks to the generosity of Cinebarre, all proceeds from ticket sales will go towards rehabilitating sea turtles at the Aquarium's Sea Turtle Rescue Program, a non-profit organization with no state or federal funding. Folks are encouraged to come out at 4pm to meet Team Tortuga, the group of students working so hard to save sea turtles, visit informational tables about turtle rescue and nest protection, and order delicious food from Cinebarre before the movie starts at 4:30pm.

This is just one of several events planned by Team Tortuga for their Peace Project, a year-long project implemented by the school that teaches students to give back to their community. The kids have three primary goals for this project: 1) to raise awareness about the environmental pressures sea turtles face, 2) to teach basic conservation tips, and 3)  raise $1000 for the Sea Turtle Rescue Program, allowing the students to become the highest level of Stranded Turtle Adoptive Parents. Among other things, this adoption will allow a class of 30 to tour the South Carolina Aquarium and Sea Turtle Hospital, receive regular updates on new patients and sea turtle releases, and have a rescue program staff member give a presentation at the school.

Huge thanks to East Cooper Montessori Charter School, Team Tortuga, the Cinebarre movie theater, and all who come out to support these kids’ efforts!  

Kelly Thorvalson

The Sarkowski Triplets Raise Funds for the Sea Turtle Rescue Program!

For the second year in a row, the Sarkowski girls have given our sea turtle patients a commendable gift. In lieu of presents for their birthday, Gracie, McKae, and Aubrey requested donations to help provide food and medical treatment for the turtles recovering in our hospital. To date, these amazing triplets have raised $510!

The girls’ parents, Staci and Chris, have nurtured a love of nature in their three daughters and are truly leading by example. Chris often takes the triplets kayaking through the salt marsh around Sullivan’s Island, where birds and diamondback terrapins are abundant in the early morning hours. McKae, Aubrey, and Gracie also spent part of their summer helping mom, Staci, patrol the beaches of Isle of Palms in search of sea turtle nests. Staci landed a rare volunteer spot on the Isle of Palms turtle team this year, which gave the triplets the rare opportunity to learn how to identify sea turtle tracks and nests and even witness eggshells and hatchlings being excavated from a nest during an inventory.

During their visit to the hospital, the girls were drawn to our charismatic little loggerhead, Gumby. Although Gumby looks strong and healthy now, he is still recovering from severe metabolic bone disease. Aubrey, Gracie, and McKae were only able to appreciate how unhealthy Gumby was when he was first admitted into our hospital when they viewed his radiographs, which clearly show the deterioration of his skeletal system at admittance and the great improvements he’s made since last June.

I am truly thankful that this wonderful family has chosen our sea turtle hospital as the recipient of their donation. These girls give me great hope that our wild animals and the habitats we all depend upon will continue to be valued in the future.


Thank you, Sarkowski family!
Christi Hughes

Little Pawley underwater video!

Many of you are awaiting news on Pawley's progress so I thought video may be the best way to show you just how well he/she is doing!

This is actually an underwater video taken today just after feeding (note the small fish particulate in the water) and Pawley is still looking around the tank for food. The turtle was extremely bouyant when he/she first arrived and over several days we were able to extract air from the body cavity, helping the turtle float a little less. At this point in time, the nature of the floating indicates that the rest of the air is intestinal. With a healthy diet and a little metamucil, we hope that these bouyancy issues will soon be resolved.

Overall, Pawley is doing very well. Thanks to all of you for checking back with us on the blog. Even better would be to visit in person...take a drive to the South Carolina Aquarium to visit Pawley and all of his turtle friends in the Sea Turtle Hospital! Tour information can be found on the main hospital webpage.

Kelly