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Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)
Stranding Location: Kiawah Island, SC
Arrival Date: 09/02/08
Age: Adult Female
Weight: 94 kg (205 pounds)
Case History
On an early Sunday morning, J.K. Rowling was found stranded on Kiawah Island. She was very lethargic and covered with lots of barnacles, oysters, algae, sea whips and skeleton shrimp. Knowing this turtle looked sick, Kiawah Island Turtle Team leader Lynne Sager quickly contacted South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). Emma Schultz of SCDNR picked up and transported this debilitated turtle for treatment at the South Carolina Aquarium.
Treatment
J.K. Rowling was in rough body condition. She was thin, lethargic and covered in a heavy epibiota load. Based on her size, Sea Turtle Care Center (STCC) staff were pretty certain she was an adult female, and a measurement of her top shell confirmed it. She also had a flipper tag on her right front flipper, and she had a P.I.T tag which is really unique – not many of our patients are previously tagged. J.K Rowling’s heart rate was very low, and her blood work indicated that she was anemic, or had a low red blood cell count. Our admitting staff administered fluids under the skin to help rehydrate her, along with Hetastarch. Hetastarch helps the circulatory system work more efficiently by keeping fluids in the vascular space. She was also started on antibiotics to help combat any new or existing infection present in her body. After fluids were administered, she was moved into a shallow water tank and left to rest comfortably overnight.
Updates
September 6, 2018: J.K Rowling has been responding to treatment well and even started eating on her first day with us! She is getting stronger but is still in a shallow water tank. She received a CT a few days after admit, and everything looked normal. J.K has been started on a small diet, and has not defecated yet. Once she’s defecating normally, we will start increasing her diets.
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