Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii)
Stranding Location: Mount Pleasant, SC
Arrival Date: 6/27/24
Age: Juvenile
Sex: Unknown
Weight: 2.59 kg (5.7 lbs)
Case History
This juvenile Kemp’s ridley was caught on hook and line from a dock in Mount Pleasant. The J-hook was swallowed and embedded deeply in the sea turtle’s esophagus. While MoJo was quite active and in good body condition, it was a very warm summer day and the sea turtle’s body temperature was elevated.
Upon admit, we began with radiographs to assess the hook location and followed with bloodwork to determine if it was safe to move forward with hook removal. Unfortunately, several of the blood parameters were significantly out of range, including high lactate and blood glucose levels. With bloodwork that critical and unstable, it was not safe to move forward with sedating her/him to remove the hook. The best plan of action was to quickly treat with necessary medications, hydrate with fluids and reduce stress by allowing MoJo to recover in a shallow tank of water. After about an hour and a half, MoJo began to settle and was swimming more calmly in the tank for the remainder of the night. The monofilament attached to the hook was taped to her/his carapace to ensure it stayed in place and that MoJo would not swallow the hook further. This fishing line would be used later as a guide to locate the hook during removal. Many thanks to the rescuers and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources permitted volunteers who transported MoJo to the Aquarium!
This resilient sea turtle was given the name MoJo in honor of Charleston Coffee Roasters, lead sponsor of the Nutritional Care Program at the South Carolina Aquarium. This program is central to our animal care and provides sustainably sourced restaurant-quality nutrition to our animals, including patients in the Care Center.
Treatment
The next morning, MoJo was alert and responsive and had even passed a good amount of crabshell material from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. MoJo was taken to the exam room to recheck her/his bloodwork. We were relieved to see that the bloodwork was back to more normal and safe levels. After a quick radiograph to visualize the hook’s position, we sedated MoJo for hook removal. After some manipulating, the hook was successfully removed through the oral cavity (mouth) without needing major surgery! After the sedation medication was reversed, MoJo was moved back to a shallow tank to rest and recover further.
Updates
July 15, 2024: We were excited to see that MoJo’s appetite kicked in just one day after the hook removal procedure! Since then, this little Kemp’s has been getting regular diet increases as well as water depth increases in her/his tank. Mojo’s activity level has been good and s/he has been progressing so well that s/he was moved to Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery™! Way to go, MoJo!
August 15, 2024: Everyone’s favorite little Charleston Coffee Roasters’ honored sea turtle has been cruising through the rehab process and hitting all the marks! MoJo was recently weighed and is finally packing on some real weight! We are so please with her/his progress that MoJo was tagged at the end of last month as part of the pre-release evaluation. Finger’s crossed that this little Kemp’s ridley will be heading back home out to sea in the near future!
August 20, 2024: This little Kemp’s ridley was released alongside Babka, Butter, Crepe, Flapjack and Sunny Side at Folly Beach County Park! Send MoJo all of your positive thoughts and hope that s/he stays away from any more fishing piers! Good luck out there, MoJo!