Boat strike injuries to any type of marine animal are often severe, and the injuries of this turtle were no exception. The wounds were deep, and an area near its back left flipper was infected when it arrived at the Aquarium.
Compounding the initial fears of veterinary staff, the turtle did not eat anything during the first two months of its stay.
Sea turtles have especially slow metabolisms. They often go without eating for long periods of time.
But, the veterinary staff knew that a healthy diet would be important for the turtle to recover. They administered IV fluids to sustain the animal during those first worrisome months.
Finally, the turtle began to eat. Vegetation or meat, the animal knew no limits, and for the following three months enjoyed a daily diet of one head of romaine lettuce, four pounds of herring, two pounds of squid, and an entire crab.
The diet was unusual for loggerheads, which are generally carnivorous. Briefly, the MARP team suspected that the animal might be a hybrid – both loggerhead and green species. DNA testing ultimately laid that theory to rest.
Its treatment and unusual diet paid off. On November 5, the turtle was given a final physical and the MARP team determined that it was ready to return to the wild. Continue...
