Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii)
Stranding Location: East of Cape Cod Canal, Sandwich, MA
Arrival Date: 12/05/2012
Age: juvenile
Weight: 1.6 kg (~3.5 lb.)
Case History
Cape Cod is one of ten sea turtles transferred to the South Carolina Aquarium’s (SCA) Sea Turtle Hospital on December 5th, 2012, from the New England Aquarium (NEAq). All ten turtles originally cold-stunned around Cape Cod, MA, in November and December 2012, and were initially treated by NEAq’s Marine Animal Rescue Team. Thanks to the owner of Davis Air, Inc., Gary Davis and pilot Neal McCann, these 10 turtles received complimentary first-class airfare to our facility to finish their rehabilitation. This transfer not only aids NEAq by freeing up limited resources, but also will allow these ten sea turtles to be released back into the wild at an earlier date.
Treatment
Cape Cod arrived at our facility in fairly good shape except for abrasions on his left front flipper, which was also swollen a bit at the humerus. Records from NEAq show that this turtle was inappetant and anemic initially, so we’ll have to closely monitor his food consumption.
Updates
26 February 2013: Cape has been eating very well for us and has gained a bit of weight. So far, he is doing well in our facility, and we’ll run blood work once the labs in Kansas recover from the recent severe snowstorms.
4 March 2013: Cape received a thorough physical and x-rays today to assess his potential for release. Unfortunately, we are seeing active degeneration in the joints at the tips of his right front flipper. Otherwise, he is doing quite well, but his release will be delayed until the bone lysis is under control.
Release Date
06/18/2013
Release Location
Beachwalker County Park, Kiawah, SC