Gilligan

Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)

(ST0438)

Age Class	Subadult
Gender	Unknown
Date Stranded	June 4, 2004
Location of Stranding	Longboat Key, FL
Date of Arrival	June 4, 2004
Number of Days of Care	314 days

Final Disposition

Released April 14, 2005 on Lido Beach

This turtle was found floating in the breakers on the Gulf side of Longboat Key and was rescued by Mote Stranding Investigation Program personnel. It was brought directly to the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital for treatment. It has the same symptoms as the last seven loggerheads that have arrived here in the last two months. It had 5 liters of air removed from its coelomic cavity to allow it to submerge and it was started on antibiotics and iron injections. It is eating and swimming. 6/7 Turtle continues to eat well but anemia is not improving. 6/13 Anemia is now improving slowly. Turtle is eating well and gaining weight. 6/19 Turtle is continuing to improve. 7/14 Slow improvement. 7/21 Continuing slow improvement. 8/5 Continuing to improve. 8/19 Turtle has developed an abscess under plastron, but it is responding to treatment. Doing well otherwise. 8/30 Abscess required surgery to open and drain it. Doing well after surgery. 9/1 Abscess is doing much better following surgery. 9/9 Turtle continues to do well. 9/21 Abscess area is slowly healing. Appetite is good. 10/9 Abscess area is now healing well. Doing well otherwise. 11/4 Wound is continuing to heal well. 11/18 Wound is down to about half its original size and no evidence of infection. Appetite and activity are good. 12/9 Continuing to heal and improve. 12/15 Continuing to improve. 1/5/05 Continuing to do well. 1/11 Turtle was moved into the manatee exhibit today, where it now has two large tank-mates. Seems to be adapting very well. 1/23 Doing very well and wound continues to heal. 2/6 Turtle had to be taken out of manatee exhibit as it kept attacking the manatees. Is doing very well back in a rehab tank. 2/15 Continuing to do well. 3/31 Wound is almost completely healed. May be able to release the turtle in the next month or so. 4/12 Wound is completely healed and permission to release the turtle has been requested from FWC. Release later this week may be possible. 4/14 Turtle was released this morning with Lido on Lido Beach. Both turtles swam away well.