Woper

Green (Chelonia mydas)

(ST 10112)

Age Class	Juvenile
Gender	Unknown
Date Stranded	May 6, 2010
Location of Stranding	Sarasota Bay, off City Island
Date of Arrival	May 6, 2010
Number of Days of Care	10

Final Disposition

Euthanized May 16, 2010

5/7/2010 Turtle was found floating in Sarasota Bay near Mote Marine Lab. Turtle has significant injuries to the skull and left eye, along with several wounds to the carapace and front flippers consistent with a boat strike. Turtle is in decent weight and wounds appear to be at least a week old. It is unknown if the left eye is intact or will be functional. Woper has been placed in shallow water and is clearing well to breathe. Have not yet offered food, but we will try this afternoon. 5/17 A CT scan was performed of this turtle's head this week, which indicated very severe injuries to the eye and skull, including the area protecting the brain. Woper has not been making significant improvements and was never interested in food, so the decision was made that euthanasia was in the animal's best interest. Necropsy findings showed that the brain case was, in fact, compromised and the brain was likely already significantly damaged.