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Kellam
Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii)
(ST11051)
| Age Class | Juvenile |
| Gender | Unknown |
| Date Stranded | July 21, 2011 |
| Location of Stranding | Lee County; the end of Fort Myers Beach fishing pier |
| Date of Arrival | July 21, 2011 |
| Number of Days of Care | 894 days |
Final Disposition
 Animal Care Coordinator Lynne Byrd removes a hook from Kellam's mouth after the turtle's arrival at Mote. |
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 The hook removed from Kellam's mouth. |
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| 7/22 This turtle was hooked by a fisherman at the Fort Myers Pier and reeled to the top of the pier where the fisherman was able to cut the line from the hook. The turtle was brought to Mote for rehabilitation and named for Rick Kellam, a Lab volunteer who passed away recently. Rick was a great help — not only in Mote's sea turtle and dolphin and whale hospitals, but in our Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program. Rick is greatly missed by all who knew him. 7/31 Kellam is eating well and is currently "sharing" a tank with another Kemp's ridley that was also caught on a hook and line at the Fort Myers Beach fishing pier: Treble. 8/22 Kellam now has his own tank and remains very active. The turtle is eating well and gaining weight but has a slightly elevated white count and is on an antibiotic. 9/12 Kellam is responding to therapy and will be considered for release in the near future. 10/10 Turtle is still responding to therapy. 11/7 Kellam was released with another sea turtle on Thursday who had a similar history of being hooked by anglers. | |
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Sometimes human activities can have a detrimental affect on the marine animals that fascinate us so much. A few things you can do to help wild turtles include:
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