On Monday, November 13, 2006 the National Aquarium in Baltimore's Marine Animal Rescue Program released a rehabilitated Loggerhead turtle, Ed, off the coast of Ocracoke Island, North Carolina.
Ed's History
Stranded near Hoopers Island, Dorchester County, on July 27th 2006, Ed was initially caught in the pound net of a local fisherman. Turtles frequently find themselves in pound nets, which don’t normally injure the animals. Local fishermen contact the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) who initially respond to distress calls to weigh, measure, and tag the stranded animals.
The cause of trauma to the flipper was identified as a severe recreational fishing line entanglement, that had cut blood supply to the flipper, which ultimately was surgically removed.
Released and Tagged
Ed, who measured 74.2 centimeters wide by 80.6 centimeters long, and weighed 108 pounds upon admittance, began eating and gaining weight in the weeks following the surgery.
During rehabilitation, the turtle gained nearly 10 pounds, on a diet of squid, herring, and crabs. It took Ed some time to learn to maneuver with only three flippers, but was soon swimming around the pool and interacting with Environmental Enrichment Devices (various “toys” that simulate objects turtles might find in their natural environment).
Ed was transferred to the Virginia Aquarium on October 19th, for continued rehabilitation, and was released off the coast of Ocracoke Island, North Carolina on November 13th with a satellite tag.
