Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii)

Stranding Location: Orleans, MAArrival Date: 11/20/2014Age: JuvenileWeight: 1.6 kg (~3 lb.)

Case History

Orleans is one of fifteen sea turtles transferred from the New England Aquarium (NEAq) to the South Carolina Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital on November 20, 2014. This Kemp’s ridley was one of more than a thousand sea turtles afflicted with severe hypothermia and recovered (alive or dead) from the beaches and nearshore waters of Massachusetts during an unprecedented cold-stunning event in late November 2014. Thanks to the generosity of a private flight donated by Margie and Will Dorminy, owners of Southern Eagle Distributing in Charleston, we are proud to be one of more than 17 facilities nationwide to aid NEAq in caring for the massive number of threatened and endangered sea turtles stranded due to this cold-stunning event.

Treatment

Orleans initially stranded November 16th in Massachusetts. The NEAq team triaged this ridley, noting extensive skin sloughing from frostbite around the neck and front flippers, and started him on injectable antibiotics. Upon arrival to our facility on the 20th, our admission team confirmed the extensive necrotic dermatitis due to frostbite and also began treating Orleans for pneumonia in the left lung. Although Orleans’ eyes were sunken upon admission, they appeared clear and we are hoping he does not develop any vision issues as a result of the cold-stunning.

Release Date

February 10, 2015

Release Location

Cape Canaveral National Seashore