Sea Turtle Tracking: Rehabilitated Sea Turtles

CARA – Cara is a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle that was found stranded in Charlotte County, Florida as a part of a red tide event. Cara was rescued by Coastal Wildlife Club and taken to The Florida Aquarium for rehabilitation. Cara measures 74.4 cm straight carapace (shell) length and weighed 60.05 kg. After months of supportive care, Cara was cleared for release and was released with a satellite tag on July 20th, 2023. Her transmitter was sponsored by Coastal Wildlife Club.

DHEBRA – Dhebra is an adult female loggerhead found floating buoyant due to GI gas/dilated intestines on May 6, 2023. She was rescued and taken for treated at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Dhebra measured 90.2 cm in straight carapace (shell) length, 98.0 cm in carapace width, and weighed 101.0 kg. She was released on July 26, 2023 with a satellite transmitter.

KALAN – Kalan is a sub-adult loggerhead that was found stranded in Sarasota, Florida as a part of a red tide event. Kalan was initially triaged at Mote Marine Laboratory and was then transferred to The Florida Aquarium for long term rehabilitation. Kalan measures 79.5 cm straight carapace (shell) length and weighed 76.05 kg. After months of supportive care, Kalan was cleared for release and was released with a satellite tag on May 30, 2023.

MARCIA – Marcia, a 50-pound juvenile green sea turtle was found floating off Vaca Key in March, where she was rescued and taken to The Turtle Hospital for rehabilitation. Marcia was treated for positive buoyancy disorder and is back in good health, swimming strong and diving! Her treatment at the Turtle Hospital included broad spectrum antibiotics, fluids, vitamins and a healthy diet of greens and mixed seafood. Marcia is 59.7 cm in straight carapace length and was released with a satellite transmitter on July 14 in The Florida Keys, and is taking part in the 2023 Tour de Turtles. Her transmitter is sponsored by The Turtle Hospital.

ZEE – Zee, a juvenile green sea turtle rescued by the UCF Marine Turtle Research Group from Sebastian Inlet and taken to the Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center. Zee was treated for ingestion of a single line of net or fishing line that caused a deep furrow in the corner Zee’s mouth. Zee measured 58.5 cm in straight carapace length and was released with a satellite transmitter on July 30 from the Archie Carr National Wildlife Reuge, and is taking part in the 2023 Tour de Turtles. The transmitter is sponsored by Susan and Howard Zemser in honor of their son, Midshipman Third Class Justin Zemser.

FUSA – Fusa is a juvenile loggerhead sea turtle that was found stranded in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts as a part of a cold stunning event. Fusa was initially triaged at the New England Aquarium and was then flown in a private airplane to The Florida Aquarium for rehabilitation via Turtles Fly Too. After months of care, Fusa was 58.6 cm in length and over 32 kg in weight. Fusa was cleared for release, and was released with a satellite tag on May 19, 2022. Fusa’s satellite transmitter was funded by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Conservation Grants Fund.

MONTY – Monty is a juvenile loggerhead sea turtle that was found stranded in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts as a part of a cold stunning event. Monty was initially triaged at the New England Aquarium and was then flown in a private airplane to The Florida Aquarium for rehabilitation via Turtles Fly Too. After months of care, Monty was 44.7 cm in length and over 18 kg in weight. Monty was cleared for release, and was released with a satellite tag on May 19, 2022. Monty’s satellite transmitter was funded by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Conservation Grants Fund.

PALMER – Palmer is a juvenile loggerhead sea turtle that was found stranded in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts as a part of a cold stunning event. Palmer was initially triaged at the New England Aquarium and was then flown in a private airplane to The Florida Aquarium for rehabilitation via Turtles Fly Too. After months of care, Palmer was cleared for release and was released with a satellite tag on April 21, 2022. At release, Palmer measured 44.5 cm straight carapace length (shell length) and weighed 17.5 kg. Palmer’s satellite transmitter was funded by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Conservation Grants Fund.

SID – Sid is a juvenile loggerhead sea turtle that was found stranded in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts as a part of a cold stunning event. Sid was initially triaged at the New England Aquarium and was then flown in a private airplane to The Florida Aquarium for rehabilitation via Turtles Fly Too. After months of care, Sid was 61.8 cm in length and over 29 kg in weight. Sid was cleared for release, and was released with a satellite tag on July 20, 2022. Sid’s satellite transmitter was funded by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Conservation Grants Fund.

ASPARAGUS – Asparagus is a juvenile green sea turtle that was found stranded on Flagler Beach, Florida in March, 2021 with 95% of her carapace covered in epibiota. She also had moderate Fibropapilloma (FP). She was taken to the Sea Turtle Hospital @ University of Florida Whitney Laboratory. After months of rehabilitation, and removal of FP growths, Asparagus was healthy. She was released with a satellite tag on July 20, 2021. Asparagus measured 50.8 cm CCL (shell length) and is taking part in a study conducted by Mike Arendt with the South Carolina Dept of Natural Resources. She is on the smaller end of the mid-sized juvenile size class that is absent from the coastal size distribution and thus tracking her movements, particularly during the winter months, will provide important information. This is a collaborative effort between SCDNR, UF-Whitney Lab, and STC. Data © South Carolina Dept of Natural Resources.

LUCKY PULSE – Lucky Pulse was rescued west of Horseshoe Key earlier this year where she was found entangled in trap line with a heavy load of fibropapilloma tumors. She measured 48.6 cm straight carapace (shell) length and she has beaten the odds and made a full recovery. Lucky Pulse had a 4 pound fibropapilloma tumor in addition to other tumors surgically removed. Her treatment at the Turtle Hospital included a whole blood transfusion, bronchoscopes, breathing treatments, surgeries, broad spectrum antibiotics, fluids, vitamins and a healthy diet of greens and mixed seafood. When released, Lucky Pulse was feisty, tumor free and back to good health! Her transmitter was sponsored by The Turtle Hospital.

RAINN – Rainn (in honor of Rainn Wilson) is an adult loggerhead and was rescued by biologists at Inwater Research Group from the St. Lucie Power Plant on Nov 3, 2020. When Rainn arrived, she was extremely lethargic and had barnacles and marine leeches covering the carapace, indicating the turtle has been lethargic and injured for a while. Under treatment by staff at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility, Rainn started eating and becoming more active within a week of arrival. On January 26, 2021, Rainn was released with a satellite transmitter to monitor her behavior once back in the wild.

MAISY – Maisy, a very special sea turtle was rescued off of Summerland Key on 4th of July, 2019 where she was found covered in tumors. Maisy did not look like the other turtles, she had characteristics of both a hawksbill and a green sea turtle. DNA testing confirmed Maisy is a rare hawksbill/green sea turtle. Maisy was treated at the Turtle Hospital for fibropapillomatosis and a severe case of pneumonia. Treatment included multiple tumor removal surgeries, several bronchoscopy procedures, nebulizer breathing treatments, broad spectrum antibiotics, vitamins, fluids and a healthy diet of seafood and greens. Maisy is feisty, tumor free and back to good health! She is sponsored by The Turtle Hospital.

RICHARD – Richard is a female juvenile green sea turtle that was found stranded on Daytona Beach, Florida, in April, 2020. She was very emaciated and was taken to the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory Sea Turtle Hospital. After months of rehabilitation, Richard was doing very well as was released with a satellite tag on November 2, 2020. Richard measured 48 cm SCL (shell length) is taking part in a study conducted by Mike Arendt with the South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources. Despite nearly exponential increases in green sea turtle nesting in Florida since the 1990’s, coastal encounters with green turtles remain quite rare. In addition to the lack of overall captures, the small size of green sea turtles also limited data collection with 81% of the green turtles measuring <35 cm SCL. smaller end of the mid-sized juvenile that is absent from the coastal size distribution, and hence the importance of tracking her movements, particularly during the winter months. This is a collabrative effort between SCDNR, Florida FWC, UF-Whitney Lab, and STC. Learn more about the project. Data © South Carolina Dept of Natural Resources.

KIRBY – An adult male loggerhead weighing 101.2 kg and 96.7 cm curved carapace length. Kirby was was found floating near Indian Rocks Beach on January 29, 2019. Kirby was rescued and had a T-shaped wound on his head, several barnacles and algae on his carapace. He also had a buoyancy issue suspected to be caused by a GI tract problem. He was treated at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and was released on May 14, 2019 with a satellite transmitter.

ST. THOMAS – St. Thomas was rescued in October, 2018, 3 miles offshore of Big Coppitt Key where he was found debilitated and covered in Fibropapilloma tumors. St. Thomas’ treatment at the Turtle Hospital included five tumor removal surgeries, broad spectrum antibiotics, anti-parasitic medications, vitamins, and a healthy diet of fish, squid and greens. St. Thomas is strong and tumor free! St. Thomas was released with a small transmitter on July 19, 2019.

YAMATO – Yamato is an adult female green sea turtle released on October 17th, 2019 from Gumbo Limbo Nature Center’s Rehabilitation Facility. She was gravid and suffered from a boat strike injury to the carapace which left her partially paralyzed. With a little help from our rehab team, her injuries were treated and she successfully passed all of her eggs. After 3 short months, Yamato made a full recovery and was released at Spanish River Park, FL. Yamato measured 105.0 cm straight carapace length and weighed 160.0 kg upon release! Data © Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.

BOWSER – An adult male loggerhead weighing 85.2 kg and 83.5 cm curved carapace length. Bowser was found floating and swimming sideways around St. John’s Sound, between Honeymoon Island State Park and Fred Howard Park on June 13, 2018. This was most likely due to gastrointestinal gas. He was treated at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and was released on October 18, 2018 with a satellite transmitter.

COCO – A 215 pound adult male loggerhead sea turtle was rescued 9 miles offshore of Marathon in the Florida Bay and taken to the Turtle Hospital on February 27th, 2018. Coco was very thin and covered in barnacles and algae. X-rays revealed a severe intestinal impaction and pneumonia. Treatment included IV nutrition, broad spectrum antibiotics, lactulose, fluids and eventually, when he began eating, a healthy diet of fish and squid. It is a rare opportunity to track an adult male sea turtle. Coco is healthy and ready to go back to sea! We are very interested to see where this big boy goes! Named by his sponsor and rehabilitation facility, The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida Keys.

DUNE – Dune is an adult female loggerhead sea turtle released on May 22, 2018 from Gumbo Limbo Nature Center’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility. Dune was found floating in the intracoastal unable to dive by boaters and reported to Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on February 24, 2018. Gumbo Limbo Rehabilitation Facility treated Dune for a lung infection, related buoyancy issues, and severe emaciation. After over four months of rehabilitation, Dune has completely recovered and deemed ready for release by the sea turtle veterinarian. Dune measured 84.6 cm straight carapace length and gained over 40 lbs during her rehabilitation, weighing 176 lbs upon release!

EUPHORIA – Euphorbia is an adult female loggerhead sea turtle released on November 13, 2018 from Gumbo Limbo Nature Center’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility. She was found wounded swimming in the intake canal of the Port Everglades power plant on April 3, 2018. Gumbo Limbo Rehabilitation Facility treated Euphorbia for multiple predator related injuries to her front flippers. After over six months of rehabilitation, Euphorbia has completely recovered from her injuries and is ready to return to the ocean. Euphorbia measured 90.7 cm straight carapace length and weighed 250 lbs upon release! Data © Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.

LITTLE MONEY – Little Money is a 365 pound adult female green sea turtle found by a boater beached on Money Key on June 20th. She was recused by the Turtle Hospital and FWC and was treated at the Turtle Hospital for gastrointestinal issues. Little Money received broad spectrum antibiotics, vitamins, fluids and a healthy diet. She is swimming strong, healthy and ready to return to her ocean home! Little Money is a mature female…there is a chance she may come back to shore to nest this season! Named by her sponsor and rehabilitation facility, The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida Keys.