Mote Marine Laboratory is planning to release four sea turtles at Monday, March 24, from the north end of
Stuart
Public
Beach
in
Stuart, Fla.
The release is especially exciting because of the dire conditions of the turtles when they stranded.
Lucie, Juno and Urchin were rehabbed in Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital and a fourth turtle, Jezebel, was rehabbed at
Loggerhead
Marinelife
Center
in
Juno
Beach
and brought to Mote to make sure it was ready to return to the wild.
Sea Turtle Case Histories
Lucie
Juvenile green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) brought to Mote on Dec. 3, 2006 after stranding the previous day at the St. Lucie Power Plant intake canal.
Lucie was suffering from fibropapilloma tumors in the bones of her face and her upper jaw (and other locations) and was not expected to survive. After undergoing multiple laser surgeries and cryosurgeries to remove the tumors, the turtle was finally deemed healthy and able to return to the wild.
Juno
Juvenile green sea turtle brought to Mote May 1, 2007, after stranding on JupiterIsland in Palm Beach County, Fla., on April 28, 2007.
Juno also suffered from fibropapilloma tumors. Additionally, the turtle had braided fishing line hanging from its mouth. A gastroscoopy later revealed that the fishing line extended all the way through Juno’s stomach. Because the line could not be removed with the scope, it was initially given little chance for survival. Mote chief veterinarian Dr. Charles Manire and Staff Veterinarian Eric Anderson performed surgery to remove the fibropapilloma tumors and a later surgery to remove the line. They also identified a new virus causing skin lesions on this turtle.
Urchin
Subadult loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) brought to Mote on Jan. 5, 2008, after stranding at the St. Lucie Power Plant. This turtle was suffering from lethargic loggerhead syndrome, caused by blood flukes (worms). After being treated with antibiotics and dewormers, the turtle responded well.
Jezebel
A 300-pound adult female loggerhead sea turtle that was brought to Mote about two weeks ago from its hospital stay at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach.
CONTACT: NADINE SLIMAK, PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER
941-388-4441 EXT. 417
To Protect and Conserve: the Gulf of Mexico
Different groups might have different ideas of what’s important about the Gulf of Mexico, but most agree that the Gulf needs better conservation and protection.
