Porter

Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii)

(ST 0568)

Age Class Subadult
Gender Unknown
Date Stranded July 31, 2005
Location of Stranding Casey Key
Date of Arrival July 31, 2005
Number of Days of Care 96 days

Final Disposition

Released on November 4, 2005 from Lido Beach

This turtle was found in the surf zone on Casey Key.  It has old damage (3-4 months ago, probably) to a front flipper, but also has neurological symptoms, probably due to red tide intoxication.  Will need surgery on flipper once stabilized. 8/6 Neurological symptoms are slowly resolving, but not yet eating. 8/8 Steady improvement and starting to show interest in food. 8/11 Ate squid for the first time this morning and ate aggressively this afternoon. 8/16 Turtle continues to eat well and is getting much stronger.  Planning to do surgery on flipper within the next week.  No more neurological symptoms. 8/19 Have done surgery and removed the exposed bone in left flipper.  Surgery went well and turtle has recovered from anesthetic. 8/25 Turtle is now eating again.  Surgery site is healing. 8/28 Turtle's appetite is excellent again. 9/4 Turtle continues to do well and is healing. 9/21 Turtle is continuing to do well. 10/4 Turtle continues to heal well and appetite is good. 10/12 Continuing to do well. 10/25 Surgery site is almost completely healed and doing very well otherwise.  May be ready for release as soon as red tide leaves the area. 11/2 Turtle has been approved for release on 11/4. 11/4 Turtle was released today with two other turtles from Lido Beach, Sarasota.

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