It continues to be a busy season for our Marine Animal Rescue Program! Just weeks after releasing several of the Kemp’s ridley sea turtles we’ve had in rehab, our team was called to the rescue in Ocean City, Maryland.
Late in the evening on July 29, a severely debilitated loggerhead sea turtle was admitted the our Marine Animal Rescue Program. Our team was contacted earlier that evening by the Ocean City Coast Guard and Beach Patrol that helped bring the loggerhead safely to shore until our volunteers arrived.
We’d like a give a huge thanks to the Ocean City Beach Patrol for their efforts in rescuing the stranded turtle. You can see some great photos of their rescue on the Ocean City Beach Patrol facebook page.
The female loggerhead is being housed in the MARP hospital pool. She arrived severely emaciated and covered with a heavy barnacle load, as you can see in the photo below:
Our amazing animal health team safely removed the barnacle load, which helped her to be able to swim again once she was stable. She is slowly gaining weight, but her prognosis is still guarded at this time. We are working to give her the best chance possible, but she has a very long road ahead of her.
Each day our staff and volunteers are monitoring her energy levels and her diet. She is eating well and is up to 2 pounds of food per day! Her weight is steadily increasing thanks to her diet of capelin, shrimp, squid, and soft shell crabs.
The perfect meal for a healing sea turtle! Yum!
Please follow her progress, as we will update you throughout her treatment here at the National Aquarium! Interested in contributing to the care and feeding of sick and injured sea turtles? Donate Now!
You all do an amazing job with your rescues and rehab. The cohesive and very knowledgable team is priceless. Thank you so much for all that you do.
Michele White, Salisbury, Md
She looks precious, good job!
Bless you for making this part of your mission.
Keep up the great work..just donated $100 to help the cause.
How old do you think she is?