TurtleTrek Welcomes Big Mama and Caton

In 2010 the nation’s attention was on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, one that would impact (and continues to impact) the environment and animals that call the Gulf home. One animal rescued off the coast of Louisiana was a female loggerhead turtle. Big
Mama, as she came to be called due to her 245-pound size, has been receiving care
from the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) in Gulfport, MS since her arrival August 4, 2010.

Big Mama had bite wounds and was missing parts of her front and hind flippers. Because of these injuries, she was unable to swim properly, making it impossible for her to survive in the wild. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service deemed her non-releasable in 2012.

The IMMS worked with other agencies to find a more permanent home where she could have a larger habitat and interact with other animals, and so she could educate others with her story.

Caton, a 95-pound subadult, was initially found stranded in 2009 on Ossabaw Island and was treated by the Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC). In December she was considered healthy enough to be returned to the wild, but Caton had other plans. The subadult female loggerhead was taken to the warm waters of Cape Canaveral National Seashore. Rather than swimming off, Caton just sat there, prompting a return to the GSTC for a few more months rehabilitation. In a second attempt, Caton became stuck on a sandbar after unsuccessfully swimming back and forth in the shallows. In October 2012 she was released again to deep water, but one week later, reports of a loggerhead stranding led to Caton, again stranded on the beach.

Wildlife government officials involved, agree that Caton was unreleasable. Terry Norton, veterinarian and director of the center, agreed. “If an unreleasable sea turtle can survive comfortably in a captive setting, the center will make every attempt to place the turtle in a suitable facility,’’ he said.

Big Mama and Caton will now have a new home at TurtleTrek, SeaWorld along with 14 other rescued sea turtles, including a hawksbill, 10 green and three other loggerheads who have all been deemed unreleasable. These animals will welcome guests at SeaWorld Orlando and will educate them about wildlife conservation. Together they will share the message that conservation is everyone’s responsibility. They’ll encourage each person to make a difference, and become “Everyday Heroes” through their day-to-day actions.

In collaboration with the government and other members of accredited stranding networks, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates one of the world’s most respected programs to rescue ill and injured marine animals, with the goal to rehabilitate and return to the waters. SeaWorld animal experts have helped more than 22,000 animals in need – ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned – for more than four decades.

 

So far this year, SeaWorld Orlando has rescued 52 and returned 45 sea turtles.

Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles Returned This Morning

After a several months of rehabilitation after cold stress, three Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles were medically cleared and returned to Playalinda Beach at Canaveral Seashore this morning (June 27, 2013).

Two of the turtles had pneumonia and the third had a small wound to its carapace (shell). According to SeaWorld, “The Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles measured approximately 70 centimeters in length and weighed 7 – 10 pounds, all gaining approximately 3-6 pounds” while at SeaWorld.

The turtles were part of a group of 36 brought to SeaWorld Orlando by the U.S. Coast Guard on December 23, 2012 from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Of the 36, this release marks a total of 34 of them being returned to the sea.

So far this year, SeaWorld Orlando has rescued 45 sea turtles and returned 35.

If you see an injured marine animal, you can help by calling the
FWC hotline at 1(888) 404-3922 or by dialing *FWC on a cellular device.

All turtle rescue footage produced by SeaWorld under FWS Permit Number MA7701911

Four Surviving Pilot Whales Arrive at SeaWorld

The four surviving Pilot whales from the September 1 stranding arrive at SeaWorld Orlando.                                                            All images courtesy SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld Orlando’s animal rescue team transported four pilot whales from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute to SeaWorld this morning (September 5, 2012). The juvenile short-finned pilot whales, one male and three females, were part of the mass stranding earlier this week at Avalon State Park in Ft. Pierce. Experts from Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute cared for the animals temporarily alongside members of the SeaWorld Orlando’s animal care team, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Marine Mammal Conservancy, University of Florida, Ocean Embassy as well as trained volunteers worked tirelessly to help the whales stabilize for their trip this morning to SeaWorld Orlando. Once there, the whales were quarantined for additional observation and treatment.

Veterinarians and rescue staff will care for the whales 24 hours a day, including tube-feeding those who are young and unable to eat fish yet.

It is still undetermined why the pod stranded on September 1. Necropsies may shed light on the reason, but it is possible the cause could remain a mystery.

The whales are carefully lifted out of the tanks at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute’s Rehabilitation Center…

Then are carefully lowered into the rehabilitation quarantine pool at SeaWorld Orlando.

Two Turtles Released by SeaWorld at Canaveral National Seashore

The SeaWorld Animal Rescue Team went to Canaveral National Seashore today (July 17, 2012) to release two sea turtles that were rescued in February of this year.

The larger of the two, a 140-pound loggerhead turtle rescued from Melbourne Beach, was brought to SeaWorld after what was most likely a boat-strike injury. It received a thorough checkup, x-rays, andtibiotics and extensive treatment. Despite their best efforts, part of the turtle’s carapace, or shell, was lost.

The smaller green sea turtle was found beached at Canaveral National Seashore after having been caught in fishing line. Veterinarians cared for the injuries on its front flippers and neck with weekly treatments until it was healthy enough to be returned.

SeaWorld animal experts work tirelessly to help animals in need. With turtles that includes ensuring they are returned to the beach where they were found. Dan Conklin, SeaWorld Aquarium Supervisor said that “This is one of the most important nesting grounds on the planet for Loggerhead Sea Turtles.”

Stranded Baby Dolphin Rescued by SeaWorld’s Animal Care Team

A baby dolphin, believed to be just 5 days old and with his umbilical cord still attached, was rescued Sunday, May 20, 2012 near Three Sisters Island in Volusia County. The male calf weighed slightly less than 35 pounds and was found in shallow waters under a mangrove.

Initial tests revealed no major health issues, but SeaWorld’s animal team will manually tube-feed the newborn every two hours. Dolphin calves usually nurse for 12 to 18 months.

“Dolphin calves typically nurse from their mother until they are 12 to 18 months old.”

Pedro Ramos-Navarrate, Supervisor of Animal Care, along with SeaWorld’s animal team are working tirelessly to ensure the calf continues to grow and thrive.

This successful rescue was the result of a team of Animal experts and volunteers. The Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute initially examined the dolphin. Once NOAA Fisheries Service authorized his rescue, SeaWorld’s animal rescue team brought the baby dolphin to SeaWorld for care.

SeaWorld’s animal rescue team is on call 24/7 to save and care for injured, orphaned or ill animals. This is the first bottlenose dolphin to be rescued this year.

Aviculture Team Cares For Sandhill Crane Chick

This big bird is teaching his little friend behaviors essential for life in the wild.

A concerned citizen from St. Cloud, Florida, brought a sandhill crane chick to SeaWorld Orlando’s Aviculture team to be examined. The chick was 3-4 days old at the time and was deemed too tiny and immature to survive on its own. After determining it was in good health and merely needed to be taught some survival skills, the care team paired the chick with an adult rescue crane. While orphaned chicks are sometimes unaccepted by an unfamiliar adult, this “dynamic duo” is doing well and both are thriving.

Both cranes are set to be released once the chick has “fledged” (grown feathers necessary for flying).It continues to learn specific crane behaviors from its feathered mentor. According to Eric Reece, SeaWorld’s Supervisor of Aviculture, adds, “The chick is doing fantastic. It’s eating on its own and gaining weight.”

On Their Own, Now… SeaWorld Releases Their 1000th Rescued Sea Turtle

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The other day my son fell asleep on my chest. This usually high-test, fast motion, ALL boy 4-year-old for a few, brief moments let me hold him and nurture him “up close and personal.” After a stretch here, a yawn … Continue reading →