1600 Ken Thompson Parkway
Sarasota, FL 34236
Ph: (941) 388-4441
Hours: 10AM - 5PM
A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Age Class | Adult |
Gender | Male |
Date Stranded | April 26, 2006 |
Location of Stranding | North end of Casey Key |
Date of Arrival | April 26, 2006 |
Number of Days of Care | 336 days |
Released March 29, 2007 from Lido Beach
4/27 This large adult male loggerhead was found floating in the surf on Casey Key. Turtle is anorexic and lethargic. It has been started on fluids and antibiotics. 5/2 Turtle seems somewhat more responsive. Has been placed in shallow water with flotation. 5/12 Turtle is still unable to swim or eat. We are giving gruel daily via stomach tube. Planning to do gastroscopy and bronchoscopy next week if not better by then. 5/21 Bronchoscopy revealed no problem with the lungs, but gastroscopy showed a severe enteritis in duodenum. Medication has been changed and turtle is still receiving gruel each day. Turtle seems stronger the last few days. 5/29 Still having to tube feed, but seems stronger. Enteritis is better. 6/12 Not much change lately. Still being tube fed. 6/21 No change or improvement evident except that white count has come down. 7/7 Still very little change. Continuing to tube feed. 7/18 Turtle seems stronger and is beginning to raise its head to breathe. Gaining weight from tube feeding. 7/24 Very slow improvement. 8/9 Turtle is now able to swim around the tank about 4 hours per day. Continuing to slowly improve. 8/29 Turtle is finally able to swim some, so is no longer on a pad for flotation. Has not yet begun to eat, but is now showing some interest in food. 9/3 Turtle is now staying in deeper water 24 hours per day. Still not eating, however. 9/6 More of the same. 9/8 Turtle has been moved to a larger tank with deep water and is receiving physical therapy. Turtle is now showing more interest in food and may be eating soon. 9/16 Turtle is no longer being tubed, but is now being force-fed. Physical therapy seems to be improving the jaw tone. 9/22 Continuing to do very well, but still being force-fed. 10/1 More of the same. 10/7 Doing well but still not eating. 10/18 More of the same. 10/28 Slightly more use of the jaw, but still not eating. 11/15 Turtle is currently undergoing cold laser therapy to stimulate the jaw muscles. We hope to see some change in the next few weeks. 11/28 Very little change despite new treatment. 12/8 No change. Still being force-fed. 12/14 More of the same. 1/3/07 Still no change. 1/7 Turtle ate its first squid on its own today. 1/12 Today, for the first time, the turtle ate almost an entire meal on its own. That is over 8 months before eating on its own!!! 1/15 Turtle is now eating three meals per day on its own. 1/18 Appetite is now excellent and turtle is doing VERY well. 1/24 Appetite continues to be great. 1/31 Turtle continues to eat very well. 2/28 Turtle is gaining weight and becoming more active. May be releasable in a month or so. 3/15 Showing some reproductive behavior, which is a very good sign as it is almost mating time in the wild. 3/21 Turtle has been approved for release next week. 3/29 King was released this morning from Lido Beach. More than a few people were very sad to see him leave, but all are happy that the turtle is now back HOME in the Gulf of Mexico. A satellite transmitter was attached for tracking. Go to http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/?project_id=141&dyn=1163787985 to check on his progress.