Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii)

Stranding Location: Wellfleet, Barnstable, MA

Arrival Date: 01/14/2013

Age: juvenile

Weight: 3.48 kg (~7.5 lb)

Case History

Wellfleet is one of five sea turtles transferred to the South Carolina Aquarium’s (SCA) Sea Turtle Hospital on January 14th, 2012, from the New England Aquarium (NEAq). All five turtles originally cold-stunned around Cape Cod, MA, in November and December 2012, and were initially treated by NEAq’s Marine Animal Rescue Team. This is the largest cold stunning event to occur along the New England coast. Thanks Michael Taylor, these five 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 five sea turtles to be released back into the wild at an earlier date.

Treatment

Wellfleet continued his prescribed antibiotic medication while in our care, and his flipper and nose lesions are being monitored.

Updates

26 February 2013: Davis is off medications and appears to be doing well. The recent snowstorms in Kansas are delaying blood work processing, but we will be able to better evaluate Davis’ overall health once the lab is back online.

Release Date

06/18/2013

Release Location

Beachwalker County Park, Kiawah, SC