On July 12, 2017, Clearwater Marine Aquarium successfully released three sea turtles back to the ocean at Sebastian Inlet State Park, on the east coast of Florida. One of the three was Pop, a critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, along with Golden Graham and Crackle, two threatened loggerhead sea turtles. All three were rescued on the east coast, rehabilitated at Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA), and are now in good health.
GOLDEN GRAHAM
Adult, Loggerhead
(Caretta caretta)
RELEASED: July 12, 2017
Golden Graham, an adult loggerhead sea turtle, was found stranded ashore March 30, 2017, on Canaveral Beach. She was taken immediately to the Brevard Zoo Sea Turtle Healing Center where she was transferred the next day to our rehabilitation team here at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. While she was malnourished and underweight at 172 lbs, no obvious injuries or abnormalities were present. Upon arrival to our rehabilitation hospital, Golden Graham was given the necessary fluids and glucose treatments to re-nourish her body and steady her health.
Once her nutrition was stable, she was offered a sample diet and continued on that diet until her eating behavior was consistent. From there, Golden Graham’s diet continually increased as her weight did; she has come a long way, now weighing 222 lbs! During the last month with us, Golden Graham has proved she is ready to go back home.
After a three month stay at our hospital, Golden Graham has been cleared for release by our veterinarians and Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). We wish her the best of luck!
POP
Juvenile, Kemp’s Ridley
(Lepidochelys kempii)
RELEASED: July 12, 2017
Pop was admitted to our rehabilitation hospital on April 19, 2017, after being found floating near Fort Pierce. Little Pop, a juvenile Kemp’s ridley, weighed only 2.2 pounds and appeared quite lethargic. After a couple days of being administered the necessary fluids and nutrients, Pop began being offered a sample diet. Pop quickly began showing much improvement, swimming around the pool and enthusiastically eating the silversides provided. The little turtle has proven to be quite resilient and full of energy.
Now at a healthy weight and showing normal behavior, Pop has been cleared for release by Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and our veterinarians after a short three month stay here at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. While we will surely miss Pop’s big personality, we are so excited for the little guy to return back home!
CRACKLE
Sub-Adult, Loggerhead
(Caretta caretta)
RELEASED: July 12, 2017
Crackle, emaciated and heavily covered with epibiota and barnacles, was found floating and quite lethargic near the St. Lucie Power Plant Intake Canal on April 19, 2017. Crackle was quickly brought to our rehabilitation hospital here at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where additional injuries, both healed and fresh scrapes, were discovered. To increase health and stabilize nutrition, Crackle was administered fluids, glucose, and a nutrition mixture for several days followed by a sample diet to determine if Crackle would eat normal food. After eating consistently, Crackle’s diet was continually increased until she reached the amount necessary for her increased weight. Crackle has shown she is ready for the open water by eating well and constantly swimming around her pool.
Our veterinarians here at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, along with Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have deemed Crackle viable for release after 3 months at our rehab hospital. We are excited for Crackle and wish her luck at her new chance of life!
All marine turtle footage taken in Florida was obtained with the approval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) under conditions not harmful to marine turtles. Footage was acquired while conducting authorized conservation activities pursuant to FWC MTP-17-172.