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Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Stranding Location: Garden City Pier, Murrells Inlet, SC
Arrival Date: 5/18/2019
Age: Juvenile
Weight: 2.02 kg (4.4 pounds)
Case History
This juvenile green sea turtle was accidentally caught on hook and line off the Garden City Pier. The fisherman hooked JJ by the flipper and was unable to get the hook loose so he contacted the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). SCDNR volunteer transporter, Terry Graham, arrived to the pier and brought JJ the rest of the way to the South Carolina Aquarium for hook removal.
Treatment
At admit, JJ was very feisty! The J-hook was embedded in his right front flipper in his shoulder region. He was in great body condition, no epibiota, and was at a very healthy weight. The hook was easily removed after lightly sedating and numbing the area. With mild swelling, staff was hopeful to release JJ fairly quickly as long as no other issues arose.
Update
May 26, 2019: JJ was put into a tank with lower water and offered some food the following day. JJ was offered food and devoured it immediately, which is a great sign! We also collect poop from new patients as part of their health evaluation. We collect at least two fecals when a new patient comes in to look for parasites that might be living in the gut or intestines. Unfortunately, we found Caryospora in JJ’s fecal. This parasite can cause neurological issues in mass quantities and even be fatal. We are currently deworming JJ and continuing to check his fecal. Once he’s parasite free, he’ll be a candidate for release.
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