Mote releases rehabilitated juvenile Kemp’s ridley turtle
Mote Marine Laboratory released a juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtle named Caleb back into the wild from Honeymoon Island on Monday, Aug. 10.
Caleb was found stranded off Volusia County on Nov. 9, 2011, and was brought to Volusia County Marine Science Center (VCMSC) for rehabilitation. He had air trapped in his coelomic cavity, or body cavity, leaving him floating and unable to dive. Sea turtles must dive to feed in the wild.
VCMSC staff took great care of Caleb and resolved his floating condition. During rehabilitation, Caleb developed a bone infection that affected both his front flippers. In the wild, he would need his front flippers to endure long swims and evade predators. Without full use of them, he was deemed non-releasable.
On Jan. 4, 2013, Caleb was brought to Mote so he could live in the public Mote Aquarium exhibit Sea Turtles: Ancient Survivors.
Caleb was the first Kemp’s ridley — considered the most endangered sea turtle species on Earth — to become a permanent resident in Mote’s sea turtle exhibit. The exhibit also houses loggerhead and green sea turtles that cannot be released, has a Hatchling Hospital for baby sea turtles and features educational displays about Mote’s sea turtle conservation and research, highlighting how the public can help sea turtles survive.
Following Caleb’s arrival, Mote’s sea turtle care and veterinary staff noticed progress in his locomotive skills as he thrived in his environment, taking part in daily training sessions and interacting with "toys" called environmental enrichment devices.
After careful consideration, on May 12, 2015, Caleb was moved to a larger, off-exhibit pool to reassess his diving skills and maneuverability. He showed signs of improvement and, after radiographs and other veterinary tests, Caleb met all of the requirements to return to the ocean.
On Aug. 10, 2015, Mote staff returned Caleb to sea from Honeymoon Island. He arrived at Mote weighing 20 pounds and returned to sea weighing a healthy 52 pounds.
“Kemp’s ridley turtles are the most endangered of all of the seven sea turtle species, and we consider Caleb’s return to the wild a great achievement for his species,” said Holly West, Mote’s Sea Turtle Care and Research Coordinator.
Please report distressed or dead sea turtles.
Mote's Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program monitors sea turtle nesting from Longboat Key through Venice, and Mote's Stranding Investigations Program responds to reports of sick, injured or dead marine mammals and sea turtles in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
- To report issues with sea turtle nests, nesting turtles or hatchlings (babies) from Longboat Key through Venice (such as disoriented hatchlings or storm-damaged nests), please call Mote's Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program at 941-388-4331.
- Within Sarasota or Manatee county waters, if you see a stranded or dead sea turtle, dolphin or whale, please call Mote's Stranding Investigations Program, a 24-hour response service, at 888-345-2335.
- If you see a stranded or dead manatee anywhere in state waters or a stranded or dead sea turtle, dolphin or whale outside of Sarasota and Manatee counties, please call the FWC Wildlife Alert hotline at 1 (888) 404-FWCC (3922).