Another sea turtle release at Beachwalker County Park

July 23, 4:17 PMCharleston Green Living ExaminerPatti Romano

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Charleston Green Living Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

SC Aquarium Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle Release                  Photo by Alex Romano (Age 9)

The South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program is gearing up for another turtle release! Three sea turtles: two Kemps Ridley sea turtles and one Loggerhead sea turtle, will be released on Sunday, July 26th at 3pm at Beachwalker County Park on Kiawah Island, SC.  

During the sea turtle release, a seven-year-old resident of Caledonia, Ontario, plans to present a $1,000 donation to the Aquarium.  Ethan has been raising money for the SC Aquarium Sea Turtle Hospital since he was four years old.
At the age of five, Ethan met Wadmalaw, a critically ill Kemps Ridley sea turtle patient. Inspired by his encounter,  he went back home and continued to educate others and raise money to aid in the medical care of these threatened and endangered species. His passion to-date has added up to enough money to feed eight sea turtle patients for an entire year or to cover a year’s worth of medication and procedures for a patient in the Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital.

Ethan is not alone among children that willingly give up birthday gifts and allowance money, or give time to have lemonade stands and bake sales in order to help save sea turtles. His story only stands out because of his age, his fundraising persistence year after year and his location in Ontario. All of the children involved in this program are commended and greatly appreciated for their passion for the conservation of sea turtles.
 
A Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle named Wadmalaw
 Wadmalaw was admitted into the South Carolina Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital on July 11, 2007 after being caught by a fisherman on hook and line on Wadmalaw Island, S.C. The hook was lodged deep in the turtle’s mouth and the fisherman was unable to remove it. On the day of Wadmalaw’s arrival, under full anesthesia, surgery was performed and the hook was successfully removed. There were also additional complications with this patient. Wadmalaw was floating, not interested in food and was very lethargic. Through subsequent radiographs, hospital staff learned that the Wadmalaw had a bone degenerating infection that had invaded several joints causing swelling and loss of flipper movement. Finally, after two years of treatment, Wadmalaw is ready for release.

SC Aquarium Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle Release           Photo by Alex Romano

Another Kemps Ridley, Winyah
On September 22, 2008 Winyah was found comatose after getting entangled and trapped underwater in a channel net used to catch shrimp in the Winyah Bay in Georgetown, S.C. Upon arrival at the Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital, staff kept the animal at an angle to drain the fluid from the lungs. An antibiotic regimen was initiated to prevent pneumonia, which would have been likely without treatment. Due to the large amount of fluids, it was evident that while caught in the net the turtle was unable to come to the surface to breathe. Healthy, Winyah is now ready for release.

A juvenile Loggerhead sea turtle named Kiawah
Found washed up on Kiawah Island, this juvenile debilitated loggerhead was admitted into the Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital on March 28, 2009. The turtle was hypoglycemic, moderately emaciated, dehydrated and covered in small barnacles, algae and skeleton shrimp indicating it had been lethargic for a long time. Fluid therapy, antibiotics, and dextrose were immediately administered. Supportive therapy continued and Kiawah began showing signs of improvement. By May 2009 Kiawah was eating well and very active. Having added the necessary weight and successfully passing blood tests, Kiawah is now ready for release.

SC Aquarium Kemps Ridley Turtle release                      Photo by Alex Romano

 Why save sea turtles?

"Sea turtles are model "flagship species" for both local and international conservation; by focusing on these charismatic animals and their habitats, vast areas of the planet have to be taken into consideration, and managed adequately. In a word: sea turtles are "ambassadors of the oceans", for conserving these animals means protecting the seas and coastal areas, which in turn means protecting a complex, interconnected world on which human societies depend."

SCDNR and Sea Turtles

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) began monitoring sea turtle nesting activities and strandings in the late 1970s, and their Marine Turtle Conservation program is responsible for managing and protecting sea turtles throughout the state. Information gained from this program contributes to ongoing sea turtle nest management and protection projects on all of the state's beaches.There are approximately 300 kilometers of ocean-facing sandy beaches in South Carolina that provide suitable nesting habitat for sea turtles. Loggerheads, green turtles, leatherbacks and rarely Kemp’s ridleys sea turtle nests have been recorded on South Carolina beaches. By far the most common nesting species is the loggerhead.  Several private organizations and numerous volunteers are also actively involved with sea turtle protection work. Altogether, more than 800 individuals participate in nest monitoring activities in South Carolina each year. Results from all South Carolina sea turtle nesting beach projects are submitted to the SCDNR and compiled for the State and made available to federal agencies. These data are crucial in monitoring populations, formulating protective regulations, making management decisions, and maximizing reproduction for recovery.

What can you do?

Get involved! If you live in a sea turtle nesting area, join the local sea turlte patrol on your island. Help fund the care for an injured or sick sea turtle by supporting the SC Aquarium Sea Turtle Hospital, and then take a tour to see how well these charismatic marine patients are responding to the tender, loving (and extraordinary medical) care they receive every day. Follow the rules at your beach to help sea turtles nest and hatch successfully. Learn as much as you can about these incredible "ambassadors of the oceans."
 

 Sea Turtle Nesting Statistics Summer 2009

Beach Report

 Source: SCDNR Sea Turtle Nesting Data

Visit the South Carolina Aquarium!

Sea Turtles, "Ambassadors of the Oceans"

Watch the Video: Saving the Sea Turtles 

If You Like This Article, Perhaps You Would Also Enjoy:

Sea Turtles: First Nests of the Season Spotted