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TJ
Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)
(LBK990807)
| Age Class | Juvenile |
| Gender | Unknown |
| Date Stranded | August 6, 1999 |
| Location of Stranding | Longboat Key, FL |
| Date of Arrival | August 6, 1999 |
| Number of Days of Care | 2.5 Years |
Final Disposition
Died at Nature ConservancyTJ was brought into the Sea Turtle Nursery as a hatchling. It is not known which beach or area that TJ was hatched. It was found in the waters behind Longboat Key missing its left front flipper. Initially it was lethargic and had some floatation problems. The floatation problems persisted and it developed a slight case of pneumonia right before they were due to be released. TJ was kept for medical treatment, and was not released by the end of hatching season, and therefore must remain at MML until it reaches 45 cm in straight carapace length (which will take 3-4 years). The floatation problems went away with the treatment of the pneumonia. TJ is also blind in his left eye and has an unusual scute pattern from normal loggerheads. We do not know if the missing flipper and blindness in the eye were caused by injury or by a developmental defect. TJ will be on display at The Conservancy of Southwest Florida in Naples, FL until it is large enough to be released. Unfortunately, due to a system failure, the turtle died before it could be released.
