Green (Chelonia mydas)
Stranding Location: Sullivan’s Island, SC
Arrival Date: 4/25/26
Age: Juvenile
Sex: Unknown
Weight: 4.7 kg (10.4 lbs)
Case History
This juvenile green sea turtle was found floating in the intracoastal waterway between Sullivan’s Island and Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Given that the turtle was struggling to dive and appeared lethargic, the boater who found her/him contacted South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) for further assistance. SCDNR permitted volunteers responded and transported this patient to the Aquarium for rehabilitation.
Treatment
April 25, 2026: Wasabi arrived quiet, alert and reactive. We noted that this patient was in overall good body condition but had a few significant penetrating wounds on the right caudal portion of the carapace, as well as an abundance of epibiota. We were concerned that these wounds might be impacting the intestines or the lungs, so we immediately investigated this area further. While rinsing out the wound, we dislodged a significant amount of pluff mud. Pluff mud and gastrointenstinal content (poop) have a similar smell, so we captured a CT scan of Wasabi to visualize the wound further. CT imaging captures 3D images that allow us to visualize the internal anatomy of a sea turtle. Wasabi’s CT results indicated that there was no involvement of the gastrointestinal tract, nor the lungs! We followed this up with a blood draw and recorded Wasabi’s weight and vitals before administering medications. Wasabi received antibiotics, pain management medication, fluids and vitamins before resting in a wet dock overnight.