SEA TURTLE CARE FUND

The Sea Turtle Team has seen a record number of intakes this year with over 300 turtles. That number far exceeds our total number of 250 in all of 2015.

CMA receives sea turtle intakes due to many different reasons which can include:

• Inclement or unusually cold weather
• Human interaction like boat strikes, monofilament entanglements or even trash consumption
• Fibropapillomatosis or FP – a viral infection that causes tumors to grow on and in sea turtles that can affect their ability to see or swim
• Other illnesses

Kreacher’s Rehab Journey

Found near the Sandpearl Resort on May 8, 2016, Kreacher was discovered floating and distressed with moderate edema. Results of a CT scan revealed shells in her esophagus and gastro-intestinal track, causing her buoyancy complication and discomfort. She received TPN (total parenteral nutrition) treatments and a regular diet of squid and shrimp to help regulate her digestive system. With a clean bill of health, Kreacher returned home to the wild on June 21st.

2016 Cold Stun

The cold weather, heavy storms and winds in the Tampa Bay area early this year caused a massive amount of live and dead sea turtle intakes at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. With the support of donations and an emergency grant from the Sea Turtle Conservancy we were able to care for these animals during this unexpected event. Your support allows us to continue to rehab these sea turtles with the goal of releasing them back to their home. 

Fibropapillomatosis

Fibropapillomatosis is a viral infection that causes tumors to grow on and in sea turtles that can affect their ability to see or swim.  Clearwater Marine Aquarium has seen a large increase in sea turtles affected with this condition. There are only 5 facilities in the state of Florida that can care for sea turtles with this virus and CMA is one! Your support helps in our efforts to treat these animals and research this infection.

Nesting Season

Each year Clearwater Marine Aquarium monitors 26 miles of beach starting in April for turtle nesting. Loggerhead sea turtles make up 90% of the nests. CMA monitors the beach for turtle nests as well as for inappropriate beach lighting that can affect the track of the nesting mothers and hatchlings. Your support allows us to ensure that each hatchling has the best chance to make it to the gulf to begin its life journey.

Satellite Tracking

After two years of rehabilitation a loggerhead sea turtle who came to us with a broken flipper named Ozzy was cleared for release. We were lucky enough to raise the money, again through our incredible supporters, to pay for a $10,000 satellite tag to track Ozzy’s movements for three months after her release. This information in invaluable in our sea turtle research to see the distance the turtles we see in the Gulf of Mexico travel. Your support will allow us to purchase satellite tags for our future releases.

Rescue

Clearwater Marine Aquarium rescues hundreds of sea turtles each year found all over the state of Florida. CMA rescues sea turtles for many human impact reasons including fishing line entanglement, fishing hook injuries, boat strike injuries and trash ingestion. Your support aids our rescue team’s efforts to get them to the treatment they require. 

Rehab

Once at Clearwater Marine Aquarium sea turtles have multiple medical tests and treatments. Initial work-up tests include glucose testing and blood work, some sea turtles are even tested in the field. Treatment will vary depending on the health condition of the sea turtle and could include endoscopy for internal looks at the sea turtle, laser surgery for removal of paps, or simply antibiotics to kill an infection. Sea turtles can stay for a few weeks or even years and rehabbing sea turtles costs CMA $300 a day for care and medication. Your support provides medical care for sea turtles in rehab and recovery.

Release

The best day at Clearwater Marine Aquarium is when we have a release of a sea turtle. Some we can release here in Clearwater and some are driven to the East coast or even to the panhandle for release. Visit seewinter.com to watch CMA’s turtle release stories. Your support provides critical care needed to rescue, rehab and release endangered sea turtles back to their homes.

The support of our incredible donors has allowed us to care for hundreds of sea turtles annually as well as our sea turtle nests. Become a part of our team by supporting our efforts and following our adventures on seewinter.com.

Stand on guard for marine life and pledge to become a CMA Sea Guardian.