On August 26, 2009, five rehabilitated sea turtles were released on Dowses Beach in Osterville, Massachusetts. In addition, a hybrid sea turtle named Simba (patient details here) was released at the same time by the University of New England (UNE) Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center. Find out more about each turtle's rescue story by scrolling through all the posts about Bubba, Casper, Dash, Iceman and Goose. You can also follow satellite tracking tags used as part of this release at seaturtle.org.

Flip through this slide show to see more photos from the release taken by education staff member Vickie Cataldo and volunteer Casey Fredette.

Labels: Bubba, Casper, Dash, Goose, hybrid, Iceman, photos, release, University of New England

Today we finished inconel tagging the five turtles that will be getting released (date and location is yet to be determined). Before being released, all of the turtles need PIT tags and inconel tags. We blogged previously about PIT tags here. Inconel tags are superalloys that are corrosion and oxidation resistant. Imprinted on the tags are distinct numbers that get reported to the Cooperative Marine Turtle Tagging Program.


Preparing to tag

Iconel tag and tagging equipment


Both rear flippers are tagged. The area is cleaned with sterile scrubs in order to prevent any infection. This process is not painful for the turtle, and probably can best be described as the pinch you would feel if getting your ear pierced. We also numb the area with lidocaine prior to application, so there is little chance they will feel any discomfort. It is a very quick process, and the turtles are already back in their tanks swimming and don't even notice their new jewelry!



Bubba gets measured one last time.

Stay tuned for updates and photos of the release of these turtles. We are also planning on satellite tagging Goose to follow the exploits of this turtle out at sea.

Labels: Bubba, Goose, Iconel, PIT tag, release

Currently we still have six sea turtles here in the Rescue and Rehabilitation department. You might know these turtles already, and if you don't follow the link to read all the posts about them.

Labels: Bubba, Cape Cod Bay, Casper, Dash, Goose, Hideaway, Iceman, laceration, Orion, physical therapy, Route, Sea Turtle Recovery Room, treadmill, University of New England

In previous posts I noted that we provide our sea turtles in rehabilitation some cool environmental enrichment. Goose, the green sea turtle, continues to enjoy his daily snacking of a lettuce forest. Some new enrichment projects were created in order to promote additional behaviors that we would typically see with sea turtles in the wild. Connie and Kate came back from their road trip to Georgia with some great new ideas from the South Carolina Aquarium. We placed a 4 inch diameter piece of PVC pipe in each of the turtle tanks for them to stick their heads in so that they can find some darkness for napping no matter what time of day. I already caught Casper and Iceman, Kemp's ridley turtles, poking their heads in to see what was inside. I also found Iceman resting with one flipper snuggling the pipe, shown in the picture below.



We also made little caves for the turtles to hide in. We cut Rubbermaid containers in half and weighted them down to keep them on the bottom. So far Goose is enjoying the new experience of having it in his tank. He has been rubbing against the outside as well as the inside! The other turtles are still getting used to the new addition to their tanks. Iceman cautiously checks it out every once in a while.



Two of our other Kemp's ridley turtles, Bubba and Dash, seem to enjoy spending their time swimming against the tank system outflow (remember Route's physical therapy?), rather than hide in their new cave. At least they'll have a great sleeping spot when they need some rest!

~Kerry

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Labels: Bubba, Casper, Dash, enrichment, Kemp's ridley sea turtle, Kerry

Bubba getting ready for the bronchoscopy

We have received some optimistic news on two of the Kemp's ridley sea turtles. Lab results for Bubba have come back negative for bacteria. We are still waiting for fungal results. And...


Orion swimming

Orion had radiographs last week the x-ray shows that the area of consolidation is shrinking and air is returning to those healing sections of the lung.

-Adam

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Labels: Bronchoscopy, Bubba, Kemp's ridley sea turtle, Orion, radiograph, x-ray

Our Kemp's ridley called Bubba recently underwent a procedure in the Aquarium Medical Center (AMC). After this turtles last set of radiographs we noticed an increase opacity in the right lung compared to the left. The animal was then scheduled for a bronchoscopy.

Labels: Bronchoscopy, Bubba, endoscope, Kemp's ridley sea turtle, opacity, Volunteer

We are happy to report the opening of our new Sea Turtle Recovery Room. The recovery room features a 25-foot-long pool and a 15-foot-long pool. We have recently moved three of our rehabilitating turtles to the new tanks (Bruce the loggerhead, and Bubba and Casper the Kemp's ridleys). In these photos you can see Bruce and Bubba enjoying their spacious new home.

The recovery room is on display in the West Wing of the Aquarium, so stop by to visit our turtles!

- Dr. Innis

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Labels: Bruce, Bubba, Caspar, Kemp's ridley sea turtle, loggerhead, Sea Turtle Recovery Room